Air Navigation and Transport (Arms Embargo) Bill 2024 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages
Seanad Éireann — 2026-04-22
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Tom Clonan (IND), University of Dublin

I will speak directly to the amendment No. 2 in relation to dual-use materials and to echo what Senator Harmon said. This is not a radical proposal and it is not an adversarial proposal. It is simply one that will assist us in implementing existing legislation.
In relation to dual-use weapons, I know that my colleagues in Government share our concern about the export of alumina to Russia. Alumina is an absolutely essential component of weapons systems. I know we have great colleagues here who selflessly travelled to Ukraine and went to Kyiv, which is an onerous journey, to protest and to give support and solidarity for the victims of Putin's brutal and unlawful aggression. We saw the Taoiseach and Ministers witness what happened at Bucha.
Let us make no mistake about this. When Colin Powell misled the UN Security Council over the dossier about weapons of mass destruction in order to get a UN Security Council mandate for the invasion of Iraq, little did we know that they were the good old days because now governments do not even bother going to the UN for a resolution. They do not even declare war. We have a US President who says get the fuck out of the strait, we are coming and we are going to destroy your civilisation. That is what we are talking about here and that is what we are talking about in relation to dual use.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-04-22/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:50+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-04-22