Written answers

Thursday, 24 October 2024

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Middle East

Photo of Catherine ConnollyCatherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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82. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his plans to suspend the export of dual-use goods to Israel in light of the finding in the International Court of Justice of a case of plausible genocide being undertaken by Israel against the people of Palestine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43211/24]

Photo of Peter BurkePeter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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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 vast majority of dual-use goods exported from Ireland, including to Israel, are mainstream business ICT products, both hardware and software (networking, data storage, cybersecurity etc) that are categorised as dual-use items as a consequence of the fact that they incorporate strong encryption for ICT security purposes. Each export licence application, including those indicating an end destination in Israel, are carefully considered by my officials in accordance with criteria set out within the relevant dual-use and military EU and National Regulations and with Ireland’s international obligations and responsibilities as members of non-proliferation regimes and export control arrangements.

If there are any concerns that the goods being exported will be used for a military end-use or if the exporter does not provide enough information on the intended end-use for my officials to make an informed decision, the application for a licence is denied.

The Government continues to closely follow the case initiated by South Africa against Israel under the Genocide Convention at the International Court of Justice, particularly in light of Ireland’s stated intent to intervene in the proceedings. The Court’s Order for additional provisional measures of 28 March requiring Israel to ensure the unhindered provision at scale of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance, in recognition of the dire situation unfolding in Gaza, was welcomed by the Government because it is our view that the Court has essentially ordered Israel to assist in the distribution of aid. The Court found that Palestinians had a plausible right to be protected from genocide and ‘that there existed a real and imminent risk that irreparable prejudice would be caused’ to that right before the Court gives its final decision in the case.

In applying export controls in a robust and transparent way, the Department ensures that legitimate business transactions by reputable Irish traders are not damaged in any way while also ensuring that exports of controlled goods are thoroughly risk assessed in the context of ongoing conflicts, diversion of goods and humanitarian considerations.

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