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Dáil Éireann - Volume 579 - 11 February, 2004

Written Answers - Export Licences.

  150. Mr. M. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will provide details of the dual use export licences for goods within the 3A001a7 category issued to Israel since 1 January 2000; and if any of the goods authorised for export were for incorporation into military systems. [4214/04]

  Mr. M. Ahern:My Department issued 158 individual dual use export licences to Israel within the 3A001a7 category since 1 January 2000. Israel also featured as a country of final destination on nine global dual use export licences for goods within the 3A001a7 category during this period. This figure is broken down as follows:

Individual dual use export licences under Category 3A001a7

Year

Number of Licences issued

2000

7

2001

92

2002

45

2003

14

2004 (to 06/02/2004)

0

Total

158

Global dual use export licences under Category 3A001a7

Year

Number of Licences issued

2000

1

2001

0

2002

0

2003

8

2004 (to 06/02/2004)

0

Total

9

None of the stated end uses of the goods authorised for export by my Department were for incorporation into military systems. My Department is unable to disclose the names of [1587] the licensed exporters as all dealings with individual applicants for export licences, which can involve the disclosure of commercially sensitive information, are conducted on the basis that confidentiality will be maintained.

  151. Mr. M. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will provide details of the end use monitoring her Department undertakes of dual use components that are authorised for export under the Community general export authorisation that have been incorporated into military systems. [4215/04]

  Mr. M. Ahern:In order to avail of the Community general export authorisation, CGEA, an exporter must notify my Department in writing of his/her name and the address where export records can be inspected by officials of my Department. This notification must be made before, or within 30 days, of the first such export.

The exportation of dual use goods under the CGEA is subject to exporters meeting strict conditions and requirements as set down by Council Regulation (EC) No 1334/2000. The dual use goods in question must be non-sensitive and can only be exported to ten specified countries: Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, Hungary, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Switzerland and the United States.

The CGEA may not be used if the items are or may be intended for a military end-use as defined in Article 4(2) of the regulation in a country subject to an EU, OSCE or UN arms embargo, or if the items are or may be intended for use in connection with chemical, biological or nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices or missiles capable of delivering such weapons or if the exporter is aware that the items in question may be intended for such uses. This ensures that the use of CGEA is conducted in a manner that fully meets Ireland's obligations arising from membership of the EU and other international export control fora.

  152. Mr. M. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the details of the exports since 1 January 2000 from Ireland of analogue-to-digital converters, ADC, to countries for incorporation into military systems. [4216/04]

  153. Mr. M. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment details of the exports since 1 January 2000 from Ireland to analogue-to-digital converters, ADC, to countries for incorporation into Apache attack helicopters. [4217/04]

[1588]   Mr. M. Ahern:I propose to take Questions Nos. 152 and 153 together.

My Department has not issued export authorisations for any exports from Ireland of analogue-to-digital converters, ADC, where the stated end use of the goods was for incorporation into military systems or Apache attack helicopters.

  154. Mr. M. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the details of the dual use export licences for goods within the 3A001a5 category since 1 January 2000; and if any of the goods authorised for export were for incorporation into military systems. [4218/04]

  Mr. M. Ahern:My Department has issued five dual use export licences for goods within the 3A001a5 category since 1 January 2000. These goods were for use in data acquisition and process control systems. None of the stated end use of the goods authorised for export by my Department were for incorporation into military systems.

My Department is unable to disclose the names of licensed exporters as all dealings with individual applicants for export licences, which can involve the disclosure of commercially sensitive information, are conducted on the basis that confidentiality will be maintained.

  155. Mr. M. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will provide details of licences or authorisations issued since 1 January 1998 for the import of thumbcuffs, leg irons and shackles from the United States of America. [4220/04]

  Mr. M. Ahern:The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment does not issue import licences for thumbcuffs, leg irons and shackles from the United States.

  156. Mr. M. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will provide details of the dual use of goods exported to Myanmar under the 5E002 individual licence issued in 2000. [4221/04]

  Mr. M. Ahern:The details of the above dual use goods, referred to by the Deputy, relate to technology for network security.

My Department is unable to disclose the names of the licensed exporters as all dealings with individual applicants for export licences, which can involve the disclosure of commercially sensitive information, are conducted on the basis that confidentiality will be maintained.

  157. Mr. M. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will provide details of the dual use goods exported to Myanmar under the 5D002c1 global licence authorisation in 2001. [4222/04]

[1589]   Mr. M. Ahern:The details of the above dual use goods, referred to by the Deputy, relate to office software applications and software tools. My Department is unable to disclose the names of the licensed exporters as all dealings with individual applicants for export licences, which can involve the disclosure of commercially sensitive information, are conducted on the basis that confidentiality will be maintained.

  158. Mr. M. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her views on exports of dual use goods within the telecommunications and information security category to China in light of Amnesty International's recently published report (details supplied) on the Chinese Government's repression of Internet and human rights activists. [4223/04]

  Mr. M. Ahern:The Irish export control system is implemented in a manner that fully meets Ireland's obligations arising from membership of the EU and other international export control fora. The promotion and protection of human rights is at the heart of Irish foreign policy and, as such, is a significant factor that is taken into account when licence applications are being assessed.

Other factors taken into account by my Department when assessing export licence applications include the description of the goods, end use and end user of the goods, the reputation of the exporter, information made available arising from Ireland's participation in EU and other international export control regimes and obligations arising under sanctions imposed by the EU, UN or OSCE. The advice of the Department of Foreign Affairs is also consulted on certain sensitive dual use licence applications.

It is clear from the Amnesty report that many of its concerns regarding exports from Ireland of dual-use goods within the telecommunications and information security category arise in the context of end-use monitoring. These issues are the subject of ongoing consideration by my Department and the Department of Foreign Affairs in the context of Ireland's membership of the EU and other international export control fora.

  159. Mr. M. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will provide details of the number of dual use of export licences issued since 1 January 2002, where the civilian end user has incorporated the components into systems for military or police use. [4224/04]

[1590]   Mr. M. Ahern:My Department has not issued any dual use export licences since 1 January 2002, where a civilian end user stated that the end use of the goods authorised for export would be incorporated into systems for military or police use.

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