Sinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)
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89. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to provide an update on the way in which Ireland is helping the UN to shape and contribute to policy around lethal autonomous weapons systems; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66726/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Ireland is active in seeking to shape multilateral progress on the regulation of lethal autonomous weapons systems.

Ireland’s view is that autonomous weapons systems that operate outside of human control should be prohibited, and other autonomous weapons systems should be regulated given their unique characteristics. Considering the pace of technological development and the dangers posed by such weapons, Ireland’s view is that formal negotiations on an international legally binding instrument should begin as soon as possible.

To achieve this, Ireland is active at the Group of Governmental Experts on Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems which meets under the auspices of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons at the United Nations in Geneva. Ireland has also co-sponsored resolutions which have been successfully adopted by the United Nations General Assembly First Committee on this issue, most recently in October 2025.

A dedicated legally binding instrument would complement international humanitarian law – including the principles of distinction, precaution and proportionality – which applies to the use of autonomous weapons systems.