Labour criticises State's role in arms trade

The Government parties have allowed the State to become increasingly involved in the production of military equipment, the Labour Party has claimed.

There are reports that over €29 million of such material was exported last year, bringing to more than €300 million the value of exports in this sector in the eight years Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats have been in Government.

Labour Party foreign affairs spokesman Michael D. Higgins said Ireland's reputation of advocating international disarmament has been shattered by these figures.

"Furthermore, the European Union, without any objections from Ireland, has become one of the largest sources of armaments sales in the world," he said.

Mr Higgins said the Government had ignored a report by Forfas, its advisory group, that identified gaps in the procedures for the monitoring and control of military exports from Ireland.

"There is a need for a new legislative framework for the monitoring and control of military and dual-use exports. Irish manufactured equipment must not end up in the hands of undemocratic or repressive regimes," he said.

According to a report in today's Examiner352 licences to export dual use equipment were granted last year, with an estimated value of €1.8 billion.

Legislation to control the sector was promised last year but has not yet been published.