Sir, – The report from the European Union Special Representative for Human Rights (“EU states forbidden from exporting arms to countries showing ‘clear risk’ of human rights violations”, World, August 13th) reminds EU member states that they are forbidden from exporting equipment and arms to countries where there is a “clear risk” they will be used to commit violations of human rights and humanitarian law. The UN Human Rights Council has also called on countries to impose arms embargoes on Israel because of its flagrant violations of human rights and international law.
There can be no more excuses for an “eyes wide shut” approach to the use of Irish airspace for the transport of military materials.
Last year, the Government granted over 1,000 exemptions allowing aircraft to carry “weapons or dangerous goods” through Ireland.
A large proportion of these exemptions were for the United States or Germany, the two major exporters of arms to Israel.
The General and I used to go boating. Now we sit on the patio like characters in a Beckett play
MrBeast, one of YouTube’s richest stars, may have shown his true colours. Can his empire survive?
Irish abroad: The seven stages of moving to a new country
The anxious camper’s first music festival experience: I brought ear plugs, a sleep mask and a book
The Government also granted a number of export licences for “dual-use goods” which can be used for military purposes, including technology which can be used as part of the machinery of war. Alarmingly, recent months have seen a massive seven-fold increase in the export of such goods from Ireland to Israel.
In May, we introduced the Arms Embargo Bill to require that no exemptions for civil flights carrying weapons either to Israel or to or from countries which export weapons to Israel be granted.
The Bill would also limit the transportation of dual-use goods. The Government stalled our legislation for six months but this latest EU report makes the member states’ obligations clear.
The Government must heed the warnings of the EU Special Representative, the UN Human Rights Committee, and indeed the International Court of Justice, by immediately pausing the granting of flight exemptions and suspending and reviewing licences for the export of dangerous dual-use goods to Israel. – Yours, etc,
Senator ALICE-MARY HIGGINS,
Senator LYNN RUANE,
Senator FRANCES BLACK,
Senator EILEEN FLYNN,
Civil Engagement Group,
Seanad Éireann,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2.