STIFF penalties are to be introduced for the illegal exportation of goods which have military applications.
Anyone found exporting military equipment without the appropriate export licence may be fined up to £10,000 or sentenced to two years imprisonment.
Breaches of the licensing arrangements for so called "dual use" goods - those with mainstream uses, such as high performance computers, which may also have military applications - may be punished by a fine of up to £1,500 or 12 months imprisonment, under a measure agreed by the Cabinet this week.
It is understood the decision to implement penalties for breaches of the export regulations follows concern that some manufacturers may be circumventing existing rules.
In one case, it is believed that military goods manufactured in Ireland were exported to Continental Europe without a licence. They were discovered and returned to Ireland.
Companies or individuals who breached these regulations would face serious consequences, the Minister for Trade and Tourism, Mr Kenny, has warned. Mr Kenny, who brought the proposals to Cabinet earlier this week, was addressing a seminar yesterday on the world trade talks organised by Trocaire and Oxfam.
The ministerial orders agreed by Cabinet bring into legal effect regulations contained in the Control of Exports Act 1983, which govern military exports, and the European Communities Act, which covers dual use goods.
The regulations bring Irish practice into line with other EU states and allow the export of dual use goods with a licence within the EU and to seven "friendly" countries, including the US, Japan Australia and Norway. In addition, the regulations applying; to companies which produce large: amounts of dual use goods, such as Microsoft, are to be simplified in order to cut down on paperwork.
Under the new arrangements, the exact types of military goods and substances which will be controlled are specified in great detail. In existing regulations, these goods were broadly defined as arms, ammunition and explosives.
The Government has also agreed that Ireland should sign the UN declaration on chemical weapons.
Action from Ireland (AfrI), which campaigns against military exports, described the measures as "more in line with the general tendency towards streamlining in the armaments industry than anything else.
"It's about making the industry more efficient. Meanwhile, Irish military goods are still being told to countries with appalling human rights records," said Mr John Cullen.
