THE House approved a Government motion making the manufacture and sale of landmines a criminal offence.
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ms Joan Burton, said the order placed Ireland in the forefront of countries which had translated their position into domestic law.
"Our leading role in advocating a total ban on anti personnel landmines is already well established. Ireland does not license the export of landmines," said Ms Burton. "The new legal instrument copper fastens our national policy of not allowing the manufacture, sale or import of landmines. It significantly enhances our international advocacy of a total ban on anti personnel landmines."
The Fianna Fail spokesman on foreign affairs, Mr Ray Burke, said that, while he welcomed the order, the best way forward would have been through primary legislation.
Mr Des O'Malley (PD, Limerick East) said the issue was one of enormous concern which should be dealt with in a " real and realistic" fashion and not in an "optical illusion" fashion, which the Government motion represented. "I think it can only be dealt with by primary legislation."
The motion was carried by 71 votes to 59.