System to control arms exports will be revamped

AFTER years of defending the Government’s procedures for controlling Ireland’s lethal military exports, Tánaiste Mary Harney yesterday conceded the system needs to be revamped.

In a complete reversal of policy, Ms Harney said a Government report, to be published in the coming days, had concluded Ireland was not in compliance with EU commitments.

"We have to fill the gaps in the Irish system, including meeting existing EU commitments in relation to the control of brokering activities," she told the Dáil yesterday.