Minister grilled over 'very sinister' change to Industrial Development Bill

People Before Profit’s Richard Boyd Barrett queried the removal of a requirement for State agencies to have Government approval to engage in or promote any activity of a primarily military relevance

Peter Burke told the enterprise committee: 'It is essentially a matter of protecting our public services, Defence Forces, infrastructure, subsea cables, and maritime surveillance, in addition to all the key areas from which I want to see Irish jobs and Irish SMEs benefit. File picture:: Cillian Sherlock/PA

The enterprise minister has been involved in tetchy exchanges over "alarming proposals" to reduce oversight and controls on the arms industry in Ireland.

Peter Burke was grilled on amendments to a bill that would remove a clause that State agencies "shall not engage in or promote any activity of a primarily military relevance without the prior approval of the Government."

Hitting out at the move, People Before Profit’s Richard Boyd Barrett said the Industrial Development (Amendment) Bill is "supposedly about supporting enterprise and industry" but is being used to "smuggle in something very sinister".

He claimed the Government had added a provision to its own legislation, after the completion of pre-legislative scrutiny, to remove the requirement for State agencies to have government approval to engage in or promote any activity of a primarily military relevance.

“This demonstrates once again why the Government cannot be trusted with Irish neutrality, cannot be trusted not to engage in war profiteering, and cannot be trusted not to be complicit with genocidal crimes being committed by the likes of the Israeli state."

Appearing before the enterprise committee, Mr Burke said the State's export control regime provides, ensures, and underwrites protections and the amendment "represents a strategic advantage for SMEs in our economy".

"I do not want to lock Irish businesses out of opportunities," he said. "Ours is not offensive behaviour. It is essentially a matter of protecting our public services, Defence Forces, infrastructure, subsea cables, and maritime surveillance, in addition to all the key areas from which I want to see Irish jobs and Irish SMEs benefit. 

"That is exactly why the Cabinet decided to make the change."

Government's version of Occupied Territories Bill

Meanwhile, defence minister Helen McEntee has insisted that the Irish Government has "led from the front" when it comes to acting and speaking up on behalf of the Palestinian people.

Speaking on the Government's version of the Occupied Territories Bill in the Dáil, which has been widely criticised for banning goods but not services from illegal Israeli settlements, Ms McEntee said the legislation represents the "strongest message possible that we do not accept the actions of the Israeli government".

The minister stressed that the coalition fully supports the need to protect the possibility of a two-state solution, which she said is the only viable solution for peace within the region.

We have led from the front in the recognition of Palestine, we've led from the front on the issue of trade and settlement, and we will continue to lead on the need for effective EU action. 

However, Sinn Féin TD Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire described the legislation, now called the Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill, as "weak".

Social Democrats TD Sinead Gibney said the two-state solution is "rapidly slipping away from us", and international urgency is now required to ensure this remains an opportunity for Palestinians.

Criticising the "watered-down" Bill, Labour TD George Lawlor said: "As we all know, there are moments in the life of a nation when hesitation becomes moral failure. This evening, Ireland stands at such a moment. The Occupied Territories Bill is not simply another piece of legislation. It is a test of our values and courage and our willingness to act when international law is being trampled upon, and human dignity is being denied.”

• Elaine Loughlin, Political Editor