Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 November 2019
107. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the amount spent by the Defence Forces on USA manufactured equipment and services in each of the years 2016 to 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47309/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe primary focus for the procurement of defensive equipment by the Department of Defence is to maintain the capability of the Irish Defence Forces to fulfil the roles as assigned by Government. This includes undertaking overseas Peace Support Operations, and in this regard to afford the greatest possible force protection to Irish troops whilst on such missions. 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 line with the EU procurement Directives, including the Defence and Security Directive. Such tender competitions are open to any company or country in accordance with the terms of all UN, OSCE and EU arms embargos or restrictions.
The amount spent by the Department on USA manufactured defensive equipment and services in each of the years from 2016 to 2018 and in 2019 to date is laid out in the following table.
|
Year |
Amount Spent (€ Incl. VAT) |
|
2016 |
€780,395.71 |
|
2017 |
€4,058,139.91 |
|
2018 |
€1,195,978.02 |
|
2019 (to date) |
€725,563.13 |
Defensive equipment items purchased during this period from USA manufacturers include night vision equipment, firing range training equipment and artillery observation posts.
The manner in which the Department of Defence procures both goods and services remains consistent with international best practice.
