Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department is the National Competent Authority with responsibility for Export Controls, including Controls on defence-related exports and exports of Dual-Use goods.

Controls on the export of Dual-use items are administered by my Department, in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2021/821 of the European Parliament and of the Council setting up a Union regime for the control of exports, brokering, technical assistance, transit and transfer of dual-use items. The Regulation provides for a harmonised export controls system throughout the EU and sets out the criteria for the examination of applications.

In line with the Regulation my officials assess all applications against the eight assessment criteria set out in Council Common Position 2008/944/CFSP – criterion two of which is “Respect for human rights in the country of final destination as well as respect by that country of international humanitarian law” and criterion three of which is "Internal situation in the country of final destination, as a function of the existence of tensions or armed conflicts".

In conducting assessments of applications for export licences, my officials carry out a series of checks to ensure, as far as possible, that the item to be exported will be used by the stated end-user for the stated end-use and will not be used for illicit purposes. This includes, but is not limited to, obtaining an end user undertaking from the end user; an assessment of the proposed end-user and identified end-use; information from other EU member states; as well as seeking up to date geopolitical views from the Department of Foreign Affairs.

These checks ensure that all applications are assessed thoroughly and uniformly in line with the Regulation and with other EU Member States.