25 Irish firms granted military export licences for sales to 17 countries including Ukraine
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Ukraine is among 17 countries to which Irish companies have obtained licences to export goods for military use so far this year.
A total of 25 companies were awarded military export licences in the first six months of 2024, up from 22 companies in all of last year.
Firms must obtain a licence to export items on the EU Common Military List, which includes everything from firearms and ammunition to certain chemical agents and surveillance equipment, as well as tanks and armoured equipment.
So far this year, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment has issued licences for countries including South Korea, India, the US, Germany, and Britain.
Over the past three years, no military licences were issued in respect of end users in Israel. However, 19 dual-use licences have been issued for the export of goods to Israel so far this year, compared to 32 in 2023. Dual-use items are goods, software, and technology that has applications for both civilian and military use.
Sinn Féin’s foreign affairs spokesperson Matt Carthy said he was concerned that the Government is continuing to approve dual-use licences for end users in Israel. He said the criteria that the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment can use to grant or withhold a licence include human rights grounds.
“We shouldn’t be approving licences for export of dual-use items to Israel,” Mr Carthy said.
“At a time when Israel is before the International Court of Justice on a charge of genocide, when the ICJ has said there is a plausible case for genocide and at a time when a prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has sought arrest warrants for Israeli leaders, it is untenable that Ireland would be approving export licences of materials that could be used in Israeli attacks on Gaza.”
Mr Carthy said Sinn Féin is considering bringing forward legislation that would prevent the approval of export licences to countries before the International Court of Justice on genocide cases.
Reacting to the figures, People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy said he was concerned about the increase in military export licences being granted to Irish companies.
“It is worrying that Ireland’s military exports are rapidly increasing. Instead of seeking to profit from war, Ireland should be a voice against oppression and for peace,” Mr Murphy said.
It comes as figures were released for 2023 showing the value of military licences more than doubled from the 2022 total, with 184 licences worth a total of €278.8m
This is up from the 133 licences worth a total of €125.8m issued in 2022, as detailed in the Control of Exports Act annual report.
The largest category of military exports last year was for aircraft components, which accounted for over €100m of the total.
It also details that there were 790 individual dual-use licences issued last year, which was up on the 691 licences issued in 2022.
While there was a jump of 99 licences between 2022 and 2023, the overall value of individual dual-use licences rose by over 140%, going from €513.4m in 2022 to €1,233.4m last year.
The vast majority of licences provided were in the area of telecommunications and information security, with 688 licences in total valued at €611.4m. There were 20 licences in specialist medicines which had a value of over €400m.