asked the Minister for External Affairs if the Government have made any order or regulation regarding the export of arms from Ireland based on the traditional neutrality policy which successive Government have pursued; and, if so, if he will make a statement on the matter.

The export of arms and ammunition to places other than Britain is prohibited except under licence by the Control of Exports Order, 1968, and the Control of Exports (Southern Rhodesia) Order, 1968, made by the Minister for Industry and Commerce on 19th and 27th February, 1968, respectively, both with effect from 1st March, 1968. Those prohibitions are based on section 2 (1) of the Control of Exports (Temporary Provisions) Act, 1956.

Would the Minister say if we export arms as such—meaning war weapons—to any countries other than Britain

No.

Do we export some to Britain?

I do not know. If the Deputy puts down a question, he will get the statistics about the total——

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Taoiseach could not tell me.

The Deputy asked him a question about military arms. He can get the total——

No, the whole total. I asked the Parliamentary Secretary the total and the value of all arms exported, whether sporting items or war weapons. The Parliamentary Secretary could not tell me.

Put down the question again.

You had no shotguns for your own people during the last Emergency.

Your sights have got twisted.