Irelands millions in arms trade

by Raymond McInerney Tue May 20, 2003 19:50

Mechanical Engineers build weapons. Civil Engineers build targets.

by Rota Tilla Tue May 20, 2003 19:52

Any chance you can convert it to HTML or some other Free standard so that I don't have to buy a copy of Micro$oft's horrible operating system and horrible Office software?

by Raymond McInerney Tue May 20, 2003 19:56

DAIL QUESTION NO. 15

To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the total value of materials exported under military licence or dual use licence in the last year for which figures are available; if she has satisfied herself that adequate procedures are in place to ensure compliance with licensing requirements; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
- Michael D. Higgins.

For ORAL answer on Thursday, 8th May, 2003.

Ref No: 12268/03

R E P L Y

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Mr M Ahern)

My Department does not collect statistics on the value of actual exports of military and dual-use goods.

However, in 2002, 73 military licences valued at €34.42m were issued by my Department. During the same period, 696 individual and 36 global export licences for dual-use goods with a value of an estimated €4.2 billion were granted. It should be noted, particularly with regard to the dual-use licences, that the value of goods covered by an export licence can often just reflect the estimated exports of controlled goods by the exporters over the period of the licence’s validity and represents the maximum value of controlled goods that may be exported. In a number of cases, companies do not subsequently export items to the full value of the licence.

Given the increasing focus which is being given to the necessity to strengthen strategic export control rules, it is important to ensure that Ireland’s export controls are up to the best international standards. In this context, my Department has asked Forfas to undertake a review of our strategic controls systems with a view to recommending how best we can modernise and strengthen them and ensure full compliance with Ireland’s international obligations. Economic consultants have been commissioned by Forfas to carry out the review.

The review will be undertaken in 2 phases. Phase I of the exercise, which is nearing completion, has involved the consultants interviewing the main parties who have a role or interest in the area of export controls.

by Jack Wed May 21, 2003 11:51

Stop trying to show off about how you don't use Microsoft Word. Nobody I know pays for it anyway, everyone just copies it so Bill doesn't get a penny of that. If you don't want to install Word, IE can load .doc if you get the right plugin. If you don't use IE you are a tool cause Netscape doesn't work. Maybe you use Linyx, but can't you get a module for that which loads Microsoft Word files?

by Rota Tilla Wed May 21, 2003 16:44

I don't want to read .doc as explained in the URL. It is allowing control of documents to rest in the hands of a corporation.

It's not about "showing off", it's about requesting someone else to change their behaviour and explaining why.

Yes, I could pirate a copy of MS Office, I could run Codeweavers Crossover, I could probably even import the .doc file with the Free (and free) Open Office.

But I don't want to, because this will encourage the propagation of documents in a format that is controlled by Microsoft. I'd rather people exchanged documents in Free (or Open) formats.

Read the URL and stop being so abusive and reactive.

by pc Thu May 22, 2003 21:24

it was just i received the .doc from higgins in that format so i just moved it to my public without reformatting in any way i normally wouldn't put thing up as .docs, not as some i hate microsoft thing but its better for cross platform users and there was nothing in the file that required a .doc , txt files are simpler and smaller

perhaps it shows how the irish gov and fallen to microsoft evil grasp on the world