2026-06-16

139. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the reason the export of €20 million worth of dual-use technology to the Israel Defense Forces and the Israeli Ministry of Defence was sanctioned by his Department in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45930/26]

We have all seen the devastation Israel has unleashed on the Middle East since 2023. Gaza has been razed to the ground, hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced and 70,000 have been killed. At the same time, in 2024, at the height of this onslaught by Israel, the Minister's Department approved €20 million worth of dual-use technology to the IDF and the Israeli Ministry for Defense. Will the Minister explain to the people of Ireland, and the people of Palestine, why the Government gave approval for this?

My Department's responsibilities centre on the control of exports of dual-use and military items under EU and national legislation. Controls and export of dual-use items are administered by my Department in accordance with EU Regulation No. 2021/821 of the European Parliament and the Council, setting up a Union regime for export controls, brokering, technical assistance, transit and transfer of dual-use items. The bulk of dual-use exports from Ireland, including those to end users in Israel, are mainstream business ICT products, both hardware and software. They are categorised as dual-use items as a consequence of the fact that they incorporate strong encryption for ICT security purposes. The primary purpose of export controls is not to block trade or exports, but to enable the free movement of legitimate goods while ensuring that certain sensitive categories are subject to appropriate regulation. All export licence applications are considered by my officials in accordance with criteria set out within the relevant dual-use and military EU and national regulations and Ireland's international obligations and responsibilities as members of non-proliferation regimes and export control arrangements. Each application is assessed individually, considering the nature of the items, the destination country, the identity of the end user and the intended end use. Ireland’s export control decisions are guided by the EU common position and its criteria, which include respect for human rights, international obligations, regional stability and risk of diversion to another end use or end user. The risk profile of an application is impacted by current geopolitical factors, the end user, the items in question and their ability to be misused. This risk profile can change on a case-by-case basis. If an application is deemed high risk and the exporter is unable to provide strong assurances to mitigate the risks identified, the application will be denied. As each application is treated on a case-by-case basis, the available verifiable information at the time and associated risk assessments can change from application to application.

I thank the Minister for the reply. Have there been any reviews of the position since 2024? Let us talk through the facts. As the Minister has explained, to export dual-use technology, which is technology with civilian and military capabilities such as computers, chips and software, a licence is required, as the Minister explained. At least 11 dual-use licences were granted for goods, worth €35 million, to be exported to Israel, €20 million of that in 2024 alone at the height of the attacks on Gaza. The Currency reports that the end user of the these goods were the IDF and the Israeli Ministry for Defense. There are severe consequences under international law for exporting dual-use goods to a state sponsor of terrorism or a conflict zone. Crimes Israel committed in Gaza and is continuing to commit are under investigation by the International Court of Justice. The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory has already found that Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli Prime Minister, Netanyahu, and former Minister of Defense, Yoav Gallant, have arrest warrants against them. The Minister cannot claim he did not know what was happening. Is Ireland going to be complicit in continuing to support the genocide in Gaza because of decisions taken by the Department?

First, I robustly refute that Ireland, in any circumstances, is supporting genocide in Gaza. This country has been a firm supporter of international law. We have worked with the people of Gaza and Palestine to ensure we recognise the State of Palestine. We supported UNRWA at a very difficult time when Commissioner Várhelyi tried to take a unilateral decision. We were the first to support it. We joined the ICJ case and provided a significant amount of humanitarian aid. In relation to export controls, with regard o every single item that is exported, there has to be proof what the end user is and, essentially, where the product will end up. The Department independently licenses those products in line with EU legislation and the framework established by the EU. As I said, that is grounded in humanitarian law, ensuring there are no unintended consequences from the exports. That has been critical to our approach in the Department. We always stand by that firm application process.

I asked whether there had been any review because no dual licences for export to Israel were granted in 2025 and 2026. Was there some recognition that the technology was being used to facilitate military action across the Middle East, or did something change from 2025 onward? Why did the Government continue to permit dual-use exports in 2024 at the height of the onslaught and attacks? These are questions that need to be answered. Was there a change in tack? Did the Government review it? Did it realise that it had been making a mistake and that parts of the State were complicit? In May 2024, Ireland recognised, finally, the State of Palestine, but in the same year, €20 million worth of technology was sanctioned to the IDF and the Israeli Ministry of Defense to assist them. By the end of that year, every single hospital in Gaza was either damaged or destroyed, 70,000 people had been killed, families were wiped out and homes and schools had been reduced to rubble. It is incomprehensible that an Irish Government would still continue to use dual licences to export to Israel. While the Government is speaking out on banning the exports of goods, actions speak louder than words.

There has been no review. There has been no change in policy. Our regime is robust and strong. In no circumstances is it contributing in any way to genocide in Gaza. We have a very clear protocol, as established under the EU framework on the export of dual-use items. Applications have reduced and changed from year to year. That is the reality here. It is not the case that our policy has changed or something happened to cause us to review our policy. We have a clear framework in line with European Union and international obligations. Ireland has been firm in its support of the people of Gaza. We are firm in calling out genocide and recognising the State of Palestine. We were firm in supporting UNRWA at a difficult time. We were firm in joining the ICJ case, standing up in the highest international forums - the UN and others - and, critically, in calling for a review of the EU-Israel Association Agreement and calling for sanctions in that regard. We were firm in all those measures, standing up for the vulnerable citizens in Palestine.