Legislation to tighten controls on arms exports from the State will be brought before the Oireachtas in the autumn, Minister of State for Trade Michael Ahern said yesterday.
The Control of Exports Bill, broadly approved by Cabinet last month, is intended to bring the previous 1983 Act up to date and align Ireland's export controls with international norms.
The proposed law will regulate arms brokering in Ireland and by Irish citizens abroad, and will introduce controls on the sale of technical help, software and other technologies that could be used for military purposes.
It will also give government officials the power to inspect and audit companies involved in exporting military goods or "dual use" products. These are items, such as chemicals, high-performance computer components and telecommunications software, that have civil and military uses.
Penalties for breaching the export laws are to be increased from a maximum of €12,700 under the 1983 law to a two-year jail sentence.
"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," Mr Ahern said. "Ireland does not have an arms trade, nor do we wish to promote one," he said.
"I should also like to stress that licences for military exports from Ireland are granted in strict accordance with the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports, which sets out the criteria that must be satisfied before an export can take place," he added.
A 2004 Forfás report on arms control systems identified several gaps in existing laws, particularly those governing the activities of arms brokers.
Amnesty International's Irish section, which has campaigned for more stringent arms export controls, cautiously welcomed the proposals.
Executive director Seán Love said Mr Ahern's claim that Ireland does not have an arms trade was "deeply unfortunate".