Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 November 2023
195. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence to outline the value of all contracts for goods or services purchased by the Defence Forces from Israel and Israeli-based firms over the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48042/23]
View answerThe principle of competitive tendering for Government contracts is used by the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces for the acquisition of goods and services. This is an EU law requirement and in accordance with the Defence and Security Directive. 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. Such tender competitions are open to any company or country, subject to 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.
I am advised by the Defence Forces that their records indicate a value of €6,073,768 for all contracts for goods or services, purchased by the Defence Forces from Israel and Israeli-based firms over the last five years.
