Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 November 2019
29. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the status of plans by the European Commission to establish a new directorate-general for defence industry and space; the level of involvement the private sector arms industry will have in formulating EU defence policy; the position of Ireland on the establishment of a new directorate-general; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45769/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 10 September, the President-elect of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, announced the establishment of a new Directorate General for Defence Industry and Space.
Space is being reassigned from DG GROW to the new Directorate. The responsibilities of the new Directorate in relation to space will be, first, to foster an innovative space industry in the EU and second, to implement the future Space Programme, which includes the European Global Navigation Satellite System (Galileo) and the European Earth Observation Programme (Copernicus).
In relation to its Defence Industry responsibilities, it is expected that the new DG will administer the European Defence Fund.
The European Defence Fund (EDF) is a financial mechanism designed to enable and accelerate cooperation among Member States to better coordinate national investments in defence. Through the co-funded EDF, it is expected that Member States will be able to achieve greater output and develop defence technology and equipment that may not be feasible on their own, by pooling national resources. The fund will also foster innovation and allow economies of scale, which will enhance the competitiveness of the EU defence industry and deliver economies for individual member States .
It is also expected that the new DG will have responsibility in ensuring that there is an open and competitive European defence equipment market and for enforcing EU procurement rules on defence. Under this new DG, Defence will be treated simply as another industrial sector of the European economy availing of EU sectoral oversight and supports.
Ireland recognises that in order for us to have a well-equipped and capability driven Defence Forces, we require advanced equipment which incorporates the latest technology, alongside a more efficient and less fragmented industrial sector which can produce that equipment. This new DG will support this aim. In addition, we have to recognise that for certain Member States in the EU, defence is a significant contributor to their economies, representing an EU industry of €100 billion with 1.5 million direct and indirect employees.
Ireland may not have a defence industry but there are opportunities for Ireland to access funding through companies in the dual-use product and technology sectors.
My Department will continue to work closely with colleagues in the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation to ensure that Irish interests, particularly in the area of opportunities for SMEs, are strongly represented in the work programmes of this DG.
Notwithstanding the establishment of this new DG, I am satisfied that within the EU, defence and security will remain a national competence, including national spending on defence and security.
