asked the Minister for Defence whether any supplies of military equipment have been provided for the Irish Army over the past three years; if he will indicate the quantity and type of material supplied; whether any NATO countries are involved; whether the present equipment of the Army is similar to standard NATO equipment; and if it is the policy of his Department to ensure that the Irish armed forces use similar equipment to that in general use in NATO countries.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Army Equipment.
40.
Mr. O'Leary
Purchases of military equipment were made during the past three years. It is not the practice to furnish details as to the quantity, type or origin of military equipment purchased. Some of the equipment was purchased in NATO countries and is similar to standard NATO equipment.
The policy of my Department is to purchase the most suitable up-to-date equipment within the limit of our resources and the availability of supplies.
Mr. O'Leary
Do I gather, while we do not want to know the details of the arsenal over the last few years, that we are getting the major proportion of our military equipment from NATO countries?
I cannot give the exact ratio but it could be half and half.
Mr. O'Leary
So we decide between EFTA and the Common Market.