Cormac Devlin
Ceist:70. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Defence if he will report on the work of the Defence Enterprise Committee. [36625/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 17 November 2020
Ceisteanna (70)
Freagraí scríofa
In July 2011, The Government approved arrangements, whereby Enterprise Ireland would support the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces capability development through engagement with Irish-based enterprise and research institutes on the use and application of innovative civilian technologies in the military sphere. The 2015 White Paper on Defence confirms this arrangement, stating the Defence Forces will make available resources and expertise, including advice and information, to Enterprise Ireland supported companies and research institutes. In return the Defence Forces are exposed to new technologies and research that could inform the direction and development of their military capabilities.
The Defence Enterprise Committee oversees this arrangement and comprises of personnel from the Department of Defence, Enterprise Ireland and the Defence Forces. Projects proposed by institutes and companies, where they are seeking to partner with, or involve Defence Forces participation are submitted to the Defence Enterprise Committee for consideration. All capabilities to be researched are vetted and agreed at the highest level of civil and military management in the Defence Organisation having regard to the appropriateness, viability and benefits of the proposal.
The Defence Forces assistance to industry and research institutions is by way of providing evaluation of technology, research and innovation, provision of information on military requirements and the Defence Forces considered views on trends in specific capability areas. Capabilities which have been and are being researched by the Defence Forces in cooperation with research companies and institutions include Maritime Surveillance; Energy Conservation; Counter Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) research, including CBRN Protection; overseas deployment training; and Improvised Explosives Devices (IED) detection and destruction. Such capabilities may be used at home and also abroad on crisis management missions and operations including humanitarian and peace-keeping missions.
There has been a number of successful projects and collaborations since the Defence Enterprise Committee was formed, included in these are three Horizon 2020 projects. These projects comprise of a range of different entities, all three of which have links to Irish academia, industry or research institutes. The Defence Forces provided end user perspective to these research projects and contributed to the findings.
In addition, the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces jointly produced a policy on intellectual property rights as well as a Defence Enterprise strategy which supports the work of the Committee.
My Department, with the support of Enterprise Ireland and through the Defence Enterprise Committee, will continue look at ways in which the Defence Organisation can continue to support and work with industry, academia and research institutes.
Question No. 71 answered with Question No. 42.