The Government must act immediately in light of a damning report which highlights gaps in Ireland 's arms export laws, it was claimed today.
Amnesty International called on the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment to urgently respond to the independent review of Ireland 's Export Licensing System.
Mr Colm O Cuanachain, secretary general of Amnesty's Irish section, said the report recognised the desperate need for new legislation on arms controls and said it was now up to the department to react.
"There are dangerous loopholes, a lack of transparency and inadequate controls in the present system," he said.
"Nothing will change unless the required legislation, resources, and systems are urgently produced. We are talking about a trade in dual-use goods worth up to €4bn every year and we can no longer just pretend that these components might not result in human rights violations."
The report makes a number of recommendations, including the introduction of new primary legislation to govern Irish military exports, better use of new technology and enhanced co-operation between the department and relevant agencies.
Publishing the Government-commissioned review in June, Tánaiste Ms Harney said Ireland was committed to meeting all international, legal and political commitments to control and monitor relevant exports.
"In the present international climate it is important that all countries behave responsibly in regard to the sale of products which are military in nature or may have military applications," she said.
Amnesty described the report's recommendation that the Government ensures rigorous pre-shipment checks as encouraging, but said the credibility of the system depended on the strength of its policing.
The review was carried out for Forfás, on behalf of the department by Fitzpatrick Associates Economic Consultants, Dublin together with the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
PA