asked the Minister for Defence the procedures for the purchase of weapons and equipment for the Army; when the last such contracts have been placed; the assessments which are used in making choices in this area; the criteria involved; the names of the suppliers, along with the total cost of such contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Purchase of Army Equipment.
1.
Limerick West): Contracts for the supply of weapons and other equipment are awarded by my Department in accordance with procedures laid down by the Minister for Finance and within the resources provided in the Vote. These procedures are based on competitive tendering and set out the criteria by which tenders should be assessed. A copy of the publication entitled An Outline of Government Contracts Procedures was laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas on 28 August 1986. In the interests of security, it is not the practice to furnish any detailed information regarding items of defensive equipment.
Can the Minister advise the House as to the criteria that are used in the selection of the country of manufacture of any proposed new weapon? I understand the Department are considering the purchase of a replacement rifle for the FN rifle and that one of the potential source countries for this weapon is Chile. Will the Minister give an undertaking that in the supply of weaponry to this country no contracts will be entered into with countries with a repressive history?
The Deputy is injecting new matter into this question.
The question seeks to find out the criteria that are used.
That is so but the Deputy is going into some detail.
Do any of the criteria that are used relate to the desirability of issuing contracts to countries such as Chile which has a repressive régime?
I think the Deputy has made his point.
(Limerick West): That appears to be a separate question and, in the interests of security, details regarding the purchase of defence equipment are not released.
The vast majority of us in this House are just as concerned about national security as the Minister is but does he consider it reasonable that we should not be able to ask questions on how public expenditure has been allocated or used in this case? Is the Minister able to comment on reports which have appeared in the specialised international media which stated that surface-to-air missiles have been purchased by the Army and that these are not appropriate for the conditions which prevail in this country? Does the Minister think it reasonable that we should not be able to ask questions on when such contracts were last placed? How does that endanger national security? What objective criteria are used in making such choices? People have a right to know but I put it to the Minister that, without endangering national security, he can do better than take refuge behind the bland answers he has given.
I must dissuade the Deputy from embarking upon a speech.
I am sorry if I have done that but I think I am trying to make the point——
That is adequate, Deputy.
(Limerick West): The information when it becomes available will be made public but at present I am not in a position to give the information which has been requested by the Deputy.
Fine.
Question No. 2.
May I ask the Minister a brief question?
A brief question, as we have to make some progress on other questions also.
If I have interpreted the Minister correctly I take it that what he is saying to me is that he will obtain the answers to the questions which I raised a few minutes ago and he will let me have the information.
(Limerick West): When a decision has been made with regard to the purchase of the equipment there will be a public announcement.
The equipment I am speaking about is equipment which has already been purchased.
(Limerick West): If the Deputy puts down a specific question I will be glad to give him a specific answer.
I do not want to make things difficult for the Minister as he is relatively new in his brief. I do not want to cause him any embarrassment but, in fairness, that question has been put down and all I am asking is whether he would be good enough to agree today to supply me with the information I have requested in this question as soon as possible.
(Limerick West): If the Deputy is prepared to specify the information required and gives me specific instances I will look into the matter for him and I will be as helpful as I possibly can be to him.
Will you supply me with the information I have requested?