Ireland plans to tighten controls on arms exports with new laws regulating arms brokering, the transfer of technology and software via the Internet, and increased penalties on those who break arms rules. Minister for Trade and Commerce Michael Ahern said on Wednesday he would bring proposals before cabinet in the autumn.
"The proposed legislation will update the existing Control of Exports Act, which dates from 1983 and will ensure that Ireland's export controls are in line with best international practice," he said in a statement. "I want to emphasise that Ireland does not have an arms trade nor do we wish to promote one," he added.
Ireland has a traditional position of neutrality but has been criticised for allowing US military flights to use Irish airspace, and for its lack of legislation on arms brokerage, a method through which arms dealers negotiate sales without the arms passing through the dealer's home base.
Amnesty International estimates Ireland exports more than 400 million euros ($515.4 million) of military goods every year and 4 billion euros of "dual-use" goods, such as components like triggers for missiles and control systems for military aircraft.
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