Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 24 November 2022
49. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide further clarity on the purpose and function of his attendance as a keynote speaker at the "Building the Ecosystem" event in October 2022 which promoted Ireland's interaction with the arms industry. [58444/22]
View answerThe purpose of the 'Building the Ecosystem' event was to provide information to Irish industry and research institutions with a view to identifying opportunities to collaborate on future projects and not to promote interaction with the arms industry.
The event represented the ongoing support from my Department and the Defence Forces, working together and engaging with Irish Enterprise and Academia. It provided assistance to Irish companies, especially SMEs, and Irish research institutions who are engaged in the development of technologies that enhance the capabilities of the Defence Forces and keep them safe, whether they are on missions and operations overseas or undertaking their range of duties at home in Ireland. These companies and research projects also create high-level employment across Ireland and export cutting edge technology around the world.
The event was fully consistent with Ireland's foreign policy, including our participation in the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy and our traditional policy of military neutrality. Supporting Irish research and enterprise in accessing funding and in exploiting opportunities in capability development in the security and defence domain, and participation by such entities in such research and development opportunities, does not compromise Ireland's traditional policy of military neutrality.
The event involved a number of Irish and European enterprises sharing their experience of the wide-ranging opportunities that there are for Irish research institutions and industrial entities in the security and defence domain, particularly for exploitation of dual use technologies. This included a small number of companies which exhibited some of their products.
The Defence Research Technology and Innovation Unit will support Irish enterprise and research bodies in accessing EU funding streams, including through the European Defence Fund and the European Defence Agency and their engagement with European networks and SMEs across the EU. These initiatives do not involve Ireland becoming a member of a military alliance nor a participant in any mutual defence arrangements.
