Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 9 November 2016
36. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will rule out the future procurement of any Israeli technology through the European Defence Agency for use by the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33656/16]
View answerThe primary purpose for the procurement of defensive equipment by the Department of Defence is to enhance the capability of the Irish Defence Forces and to afford the greatest possible force protection to Irish troops on overseas Peace Support Operations.
The principle of competitive tendering for Government contracts is used by the Department of Defence for the acquisition of defensive equipment for the Defence Forces. Central to those procedures is the requirement to allow fair competition between suppliers through the submission of tenders following advertising of the tender competition on the e-tenders site and on the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) where appropriate in accordance with the relevant EU procurement directives, including the Directive on the procurement of Defence and Security equipment.
Such tender competitions are open to any individual company or country in accordance with the terms of all UN, OSCE and EU arms embargos or restrictions. There are no such restrictions or embargos in place on Israel or Israeli companies. Tender competitions are held in accordance with the EU Code of Conduct on Export Controls.
Ireland has participated in the European Defence Agency since it was established in 2004. The primary reason for Ireland’s participation in the European Defence Agency is to support the development of Defence Forces capabilities for peacekeeping and international crisis management operations. Ireland’s ongoing participation in the EDA is designed to enable the Defence Forces to participate in leading edge projects and have access to the latest technologies in relation to relevant military capabilities which will support their ongoing participation in international peace support and crisis management operations. Ireland also supports the European Defence Agency in its role in the development of a more competitive and efficient defence industry which could reduce the cost of equipment procurement to the Defence Forces.
The Government's White Paper on Defence, published in August 2015, states "Procurement approaches will be developed … through more robust planning, more collaborative/joint procurement through direct engagement with other countries or through the European Defence Agency…". To date Ireland has not conducted any procurement through the European Defence Agency but my Department continues to explore potential opportunities that the Agency can offer.
