Peter Burke
Ceist:74. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Finance if he will extend the reduced VAT rate of 9% on all electricity bills issued after 31 October 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52307/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraTax Code
Ceisteanna (74)
Freagraí scríofa
As announced in Budget 2023, I am extending the reduction on the VAT rate for gas and electricity for an additional 4 months, until 28 February 2023 at an estimated cost of €45m.
I recognise the impact of the current energy crisis and understand how it has contributed to a rise in the cost of living. While the energy crisis is driven primarily by global factors, the Government has taken the decision to reduce VAT on gas and electricity to alleviate some of these impacts along with a range of other measures.
The previous VAT rate for gas and electricity was 13.5 per cent. This rate was reduced to 9 per cent from 1 May to 31 October 2022 at a cost of €46m to the Exchequer.
Question No. 75 answered with Question No. 69.
Vehicle Registration Tax
Ceisteanna (76)
Marian Harkin
Ceist:76. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide statistics relating to the use of the seize and release VRT enforcement procedure to obtain roadside cash payment of compromise penalties for September 2022, in tabular form (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52452/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I think it is important, having regard to the framing of the Deputy’s question, to state that I am satisfied that the objective of the implementation of Revenue’s statutory powers to seize and release, which may lead to the payment of compromise sums, is not an objective in its own right but rather is a facilitation for a person who makes the decision to pay this sum arising from their VRT non-compliance and in order to secure the immediate release of their vehicle. This option is provided for by statute.
I am advised by Revenue that its approach to enforcement of the law relating to Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT) is that in each instance where a failure to comply with the relevant legal requirements is detected, the matter is dealt with in a manner that is fair and proportionate in the circumstances of the particular case. Section 5.4.2 of the VRT enforcement manual gives examples of the forms of action appropriate in the various situations that a Revenue Officer may encounter.
In certain instances, a warning will be given or a VRT Demand Notice issued in accordance with Section 5.5 of the VRT enforcement manual.
A vehicle may be detained under section 140(3) of the Finance Act 2001 where an Officer has reasonable suspicion that the vehicle has not been registered in the State, has been converted and a declaration of conversion has not been made, or VRT has not been paid. It may be detained for such period as is required by the Officer to carry out enquiries to determine whether such vehicle has been registered, such declaration has been made or such VRT has been paid. The period of detention is the earlier of the period of time taken to make such enquiries or on the expiration of a period of one month.
Where an Officer forms the view that a person is a resident of the State and is in possession of an unregistered vehicle contrary to section 139 of the Finance Act 1992, and that the person has had the vehicle in the State for in excess of a 30-day period, the vehicle may be lawfully seized in accordance with Section 141 of the Finance Act 2001.
Depending on the circumstances of the particular case, Officers may offer release of the vehicle at the roadside pursuant to the provisions of s.144(2) of the Finance Act 2001 on payment, of a compromised sum.
I am advised by Revenue that the number of warnings issued, detentions, vehicles seized for VRT related offences and the number of cases where a compromise sum was paid for the month of September 2022 is set out in tabular form below:
|
2022 |
Warnings |
Detentions (s.140 FA 2001) |
Seizures (s.141 FA 2001) |
Vehicles restored pursuant to s.144(2) FA 2001 on payment of a compromise sum |
Vehicles released pursuant to s.144(3)(a) FA 2001 on payment of a compromise sum |
Total value of compromise sum paid pursuant to s.144(2) FA 2001 |
|
September |
4 |
1 |
77 |
72 |
1 |
€61,122 |
Construction Works
Ceisteanna (77)
Jim O'Callaghan
Ceist:77. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the permission if any that was needed and or granted for the construction works that are ongoing at Tom Johnson House; the times and days within which such noisy work is permitted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52069/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The construction works at Tom Johnson House are exempted development. The works are incompliance with the Good Practice Guide for Construction and Demolition.
Departmental Priorities
Ceisteanna (78)
Paul Murphy
Ceist:78. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his attention has been drawn to the staff retention issues in several areas including health and education, particularly in Dublin, due to the cost-of-living and housing crisis; the actions that the Government are taking to tackle this issue; and if they are considering an allowance similar to the London weighting allowance (details supplied). [52107/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Staff numbers in the public service have continued to grow over the last number of years. Between end-2015 and Q2 2022 overall serving numbers in full-time equivalent terms (FTE) increased from about 302,000 to 370,000, an increase of 68,000 FTE or approximately 20%.
Pay in the public service has been governed by a system of collective agreements since the Croke Park Agreement was negotiated in 2010. These collective agreements have helped to ensure that public pay is managed in a sustainable way while enabling reform of public services and changes to work practices.
The current public service agreement is ‘Building Momentum – A New Public Service Agreement 2021 – 2022’ which was due to expire at the end of 2022. As the Deputy will be aware, discussions took place earlier this year between the parties to the Agreement following the triggering of the review clause in Building Momentum by public service unions and associations due to recent increases in the cost of living.
These were challenging discussions given the levels of inflation that have emerged and the considerable uncertainty in the global economic outlook. The Government’s aim in these talks was to achieve a deal that is fair and affordable to both taxpayers generally and public service employees.
The outcome of these discussions was a set of proposals put forward by the Workplace Relations Commission to extend Building Momentum for a period of 12 months to the end of 2023. Three additional pay adjustments totalling 6.5% are provided for under the extension to Building Momentum over 2022 and 2023. These are:
- An increase in annualised basic salaries for public servants of 3% backdated to 2 February 2022.
- An increase in annualised basic salaries for public servants of 2% on 1 March 2023.
- An increase in annualised basic salaries for public servants of 1.5% or €750, whichever is greater, on 1 October 2023.
These proposals have now been ratified by ICTU, the PNA and AGSI.
The cost of these pay adjustments under the extension to Building Momentum is estimated to be €1.6 billion spread over three calendar years - 2022, 2023, and 2024.
This extension makes Building Momentum a three year pay deal. The extension acknowledges the higher than anticipated rates of inflation that have emerged since 2021 and in particular the impact of cost of living pressures. This is the approach being taking in relation to public service pay, rather than consideration of location specific allowances.
The existing Building Momentum Agreement provided headline benefits of 3%. In total, including the existing Agreement and the proposed extension, headline benefits over the lifetime of Building Momentum would amount to 9.5%.
In respect of public servants at lower pay levels, Building Momentum as extended provides for increases of 12.5% over its lifetime.
Office of Public Works
Ceisteanna (79)
Michael Lowry
Ceist:79. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reasons that the Office of Public Works will not provide a licence to access the swimming pool in the Garda college in Templemore in order that a person can provide swimming and water safety/lifesaving classes, which are considered essential life skills; if his attention has been drawn to a long tradition to allow access to this local amenity including the provision to provide and make available swimming and water safety/lifesaving classes to the local community in the swimming pool at the Garda college; if the OPW has changed its policy when reviewing and granting licences to use the swimming pool in the Garda college; the current licencing guidelines used by the OPW to access a licence application to use the swimming pool at the Garda college; the way in which a person can obtain a copy of the OPW’s licensing guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52152/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
While the Commissioners do not comment on individual licence applications, I can confirm that the OPW has supported the long tradition of the Garda authorities making the facilities at the Garda College available to the community for use by local schools and community/voluntary groups.
The swimming pool in the Garda Training College is primarily for use by the trainees at the College, but they can be made available to local schools and community/voluntary groups, where appropriate. Arising from an audit relating to the Garda College in 2017, the Garda College and the OPW put a licensing system in place in order to continue this practice and regularise the licensing arrangements.
Where a group is interested in using the facilities, they must apply to the Garda College, in the first instance as the application process is managed by the Garda College. If deemed appropriate, the College will then request the OPW to grant a licence to the group for the use of the pool facilities. The assessment and approval of applications rests with the Garda College authorities in terms of satisfying conditions around insurance, vetting, etc in advance of submitting an application to the OPW to enter into a licence agreement. In addition, it is for the group to arrange that the relevant qualified persons, e.g. lifeguards are present during the period of use of the facilities.
The OPW continues to support the Garda authorities in making the facilities available, where possible, to schools and community groups, on a not-for-profit basis, in line with their decisions on the running of the College. If a decision is made by the Garda authorities to permit private operators use the facilities to provide services on a commercial charging basis, this would require a procurement process to be undertaken in line with procurement guidelines. Any decision around the day-to-day operation of facilities at the College is a matter for the Garda authorities, who consult the OPW as the property owner.
In terms of guidelines to apply to use the pool, these are available from the Garda College authorities along with their code of conduct in using the College facilities.
Heritage Sites
Ceisteanna (80)
Emer Higgins
Ceist:80. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide details of the visitor numbers to the visitor centre in the Phoenix Park for a specified timeframe (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52246/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Please find below visitor numbers for the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre. It should be noted that the Visitor Centre was closed from 1st January 2021 to 16th May 2021, due to COVID 19 restrictions.
|
Year |
Months |
Numbers recorded |
|
2019 |
March-September |
176,302 |
|
2021 |
March-September |
14,189 |
|
2022 |
March-September |
159,526 |
In addition, please find below visitor counter numbers for the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre outdoor area. This includes visitors to Ashtown Demesne, Visitor Centre, playground and walled garden.
Departmental Funding
Ceisteanna (81)
Mick Barry
Ceist:81. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media when she envisages that the media fund for local reporting, proposed in the Future of Media Commission’s report, will be established; the amount that will be allocated to the fund; the criteria for applying for funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52224/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Report of the Future of Media Commission recommended that the Broadcasting Fund, currently provided for under Part 10 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 and which supports the Sound and Vision and Archiving Schemes, should be converted into a Media Fund to provide funding on a platform-neutral basis to the wider media sector.
The Report also recommended that in addition to the two current schemes, the Media Fund should support six new support schemes, including a Local Democracy Reporting Scheme, to be introduced on a phased basis. It proposed that the Fund should be operated by Coimisiún na Meán, the new media regulator being established by the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill (OSMR) 2022, to ensure that funding decisions are independent of Government, and that the Fund be established on administrative basis in advance of its formal establishment on a statutory basis.
In light of the recommendations of the Report, €6 million has been allocated in Budget 2023 to the Media Fund on an administrative basis, with the priority being the establishment of a Local Democracy Reporting Scheme and a Courts Reporting Scheme, both of which will support media at local, regional and national levels on a platform-neutral basis. As recommended by the Commission, the broad parameters of the Schemes will be developed by my Department while the detailed design and administration of the Schemes, including issues regarding eligibility, will be the responsibility of Coimisiún na Meán.
My officials in consultation with the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, have commenced work on the broad parameters of the Schemes and the practical steps necessary to progress their establishment. Once Coimisiún na Meán has finalised the design of the Schemes, State aid clearance will be sought from the European Commission. Following State aid approval I expect that Coimisiún na Meán will begin the practical administration of the Schemes in line with any terms that the European Commission may require.
Regulatory Bodies
Ceisteanna (82)
John Paul Phelan
Ceist:82. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he intends to expedite the establishment of the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority to ensure that the board is in place before the end of 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52263/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The process to recruit the Chairperson and up to six ordinary members for the Board of MARA is well underway. This process, which is being managed by the State Boards Division of the Public Appointments Service, commenced on 12 September 2022 and the closing date for submission of expressions of interest was 3 October 2022.
An assessment panel convened by the Public Appointments Service will now work towards preparing a shortlist of suitably qualified candidates which will be submitted to me. I will make the appointments from this list. Relevant Ministers and the County and City Management Association have also been invited to submit suitable nominees for the Board in accordance with the establishing legislation.
In addition, the campaign to recruit a Chief Executive Designate was launched on 30 September 2022. This competition is being managed by the Public Appointments Service on behalf of the Top Level Appointments Committee (TLAC), and the closing date for applications is 20 October 2022.
A dedicated unit is in place within my Department to progress the establishment of the agency and work is currently being undertaken across three work streams - Governance, Operational Development and Corporate Development. Appointing a Chief Executive Designate, Chairperson and Board are critical elements of MARA's governance and reflect my commitment to establishing the agency as early as possible in 2023.
Animal Diseases
Ceisteanna (83)
Matt Carthy
Ceist:83. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the actions and processes that are taken and followed in the event that remains of unhealthy swans are discovered by the National Parks and Wildlife Service whereby there is not a suspicion of avian influenza; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52146/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Due to the current presence of avian influenza in Ireland and wider western Europe, in the event of unexplained death/illness of high risk waterbirds, before handling any sick, injured or dead birds, NPWS must first contact the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, to ensure avian influenza is ruled out. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has responsibility for avian influenza testing. NPWS would ask for information on the outcomes of the testing to be provided. This, and any other testing or site-based or witness evidence available, would be used to review and investigate the possibility of any breach of the Wildlife Acts 1976-2021. All species of swans found in Ireland are protected under the Wildlife Acts, which include provisions in relation to hunting, trapping and poisoning. Any other concern regarding water quality related toxicity is within the remit of local authorities and other public authorities dealing with water quality and public health.
Local Authorities
Ceisteanna (84)
Seán Haughey
Ceist:84. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reasons for not applying the same rationale to officers in local government given the ongoing effect of Circular EL 02/2011, given the availability of incremental credit to civil servants working in his Department as per Circular 08/2019; the reasons that local government officers are treated differently relative to their civil servant counterparts; if he will commit to an immediate review of Circular EL 02/2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52160/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAwaiting reply from the Department.
Housing Schemes
Ceisteanna (85)
Duncan Smith
Ceist:85. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when affordable housing schemes will become available in Rush, County Dublin; and the procedure in applying for the scheme/schemes. [52245/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In implementing Housing for All, each local authority has now prepared a Housing Delivery Action Plan for 2022 to 2026 and plans are available on Council websites.
Fingal County Council made an application to my Department under the Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) for funding to assist in the delivery of 52 affordable purchase homes at a site in Hayestown in Rush. Approval in principle was granted for this scheme and Fingal County Council have advised my Department that this development will be on site next month, with all 52 homes to be available for purchase in 2023. Fingal County Council will announce further details of this affordable purchase scheme and how to apply, on their website in due course.
In addition, the First Home Scheme, launched in July this year, which supports first-time buyers in purchasing new houses and apartments in the private market through the use of an equity share model, similar to that employed in the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme. The Scheme aims to support in the region of 8,000 households in acquiring new homes in the private market in the years 2022 to 2026 with an overall budget of €400 million. The scheme is available nationwide and more information can be found at https://www.firsthomescheme.ie/
Renewable Energy Generation
Ceisteanna (86)
John Paul Phelan
Ceist:86. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the level of engagement that his Department has had with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications in the context of reviewing planning laws pertaining to renewable energy developments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52271/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Review and Consolidation of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) is being overseen by the Attorney General and he has appointed a working group of professionals with planning law expertise to assist him in this work.
A dedicated Planning Legislation Review Unit has been established within my Department to work closely with the Attorney General and his working group on an ongoing basis, particularly with regards to any policy implications of proposed changes, responsibility for which lies within the remit of the Minister.
To supplement this work, extensive stakeholder engagement has been undertaken and continues to take place. A Planning Advisory Forum has been established, which I Chair. An inter-Departmental group, with representatives of other relevant Government Departments including the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, has also been established. There has also been significant bilateral engagement with that Department.
All provisions in the Planning and Development Act, including relating to planning consents, are being examined as part of the review. It is intended that the review will be completed shortly with a Bill intended to go before Government before the year end.
Passport Services
Ceisteanna (87)
Bernard Durkan
Ceist:87. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a person’s mother’s birth certificate submitted as part of an application for an Irish passport can be returned in the case of a person (details supplied) who urgently requires the documentation to be returned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52193/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
With regard to the Foreign Birth Registration application about which the Deputy has enquired, the requested document has been returned by post to the applicant.
Pension Provisions
Ceisteanna (88)
Bernard Durkan
Ceist:88. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide an update on the case of a person (details supplied) who is in receipt of relevant increments for retirees in recent years, who was employed in his Department for over 30 years and who feels that their pension entitlements have not been accurately calculated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52259/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The payment of pensions, including the application of general round increases for the staff of my Department, is a matter for the pensions pay team within the National Shared Service Office (NSSO). Any enquiries received by my Department relating to such matters are forwarded to the NSSO for consideration. The case in question remains open with the NSSO and is awaiting further information from the named officer. My Department has asked the NSSO to follow up directly with the individual.
Birth Certificates
Ceisteanna (89)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:89. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will expedite an application by a person (details supplied) for an Irish birth certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52283/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department is responsible for processing Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) applications for people who are born abroad and claim Irish Citizenship through a grandparent born in Ireland or through a parent who has claimed citizenship also through FBR, Naturalisation or Post Nuptial Citizenship.
Demand for this service increased significantly as a result of the Brexit vote in the UK. In 2015, prior to Brexit, a total of 6,000 entries were made to the register. In 2019, a peak number of 19,000 entries were made to the Foreign Births Register. Demand for this service from applicants in England, Scotland and Wales continues to be strong with over 8,000 applications received to date this year.
The service was also impacted by necessary Covid-19 restrictions in 2020 and 2021 and the unprecedented demand for passports seen to date in 2022.
The current waiting time for FBR applications is approximately 2 years from receipt of supporting documentation. My Department is currently putting in place a number of measures that will address the volume of FBR applications currently on hand with a view to significantly reducing the processing time for these citizenship applications by the end of this year.
The Passport Service has been scaling up resources to deal with anticipated demand for passports and FBRs since June of last year. Staffing numbers in the Passport Service have doubled since June 2021. There are currently 817 staff. My Department ran several competitions in 2021/22 to address staffing needs in the Passport Service. New office space on the Balbriggan campus is now open and provides over 200 additional workstations to accommodate the increase in staff numbers.
The unprecedented level of staff currently working in the Passport Service will be maintained in the months ahead, allowing for the reassignment of additional staff to the processing of FBR applications.
The application referenced by the Deputy was registered on 20 April 2022. The FBR Service operates a transparent general policy of processing applications in order of receipt. It is not possible to expedite applications on grounds of employment, study, or residency.
Passport Services
Ceisteanna (90)
Mary Lou McDonald
Ceist:90. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide a copy of the business case undertaken by his Department on the establishment of a passport office in Belfast; the date on which this work was initiated; the date on which it concluded and if this work was undertaken by officials in his Department or outsourced to another agency, organisation or academic. [52305/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Demand for passports from Northern Ireland remains steady at an average of 11,000 applications per month. This equates to about 10% of total applications received by the Passport Service.
87% of applicants from Northern Ireland this year have applied through Passport Online and that figure will continue to grow as the Passport Service's Digital First media and communications strategy is rolled out in the coming months.
The passport offices in Mount St and Cork have public counters and offer an urgent appointment service for those who wish to renew their passport within one or four days in Dublin or within four days in Cork.
Of the online applications received from Northern Ireland, about 60% of these are renewals. 84% of adult online renewal applications and almost 50% of child online renewal applications are currently being processed in 3 working days or less, meaning that, for many, the Passport Online service is even faster than the 4 day urgent appointment service offered at our public counters.
The remaining 40% of applications are first time applications and do take longer to process as the person’s identity and entitlement must be verified. Because of the necessary security checks carried out on all first time applications, regardless of their origin, these applications cannot be processed under the urgent appointment system at our public offices.
Recent figures show that just 28% of those urgent appointments are currently being used and applications processed by the public counters in Dublin and Cork amount to only 1% of the total of all passports produced by the Passport Service.
In view of the fact that the overwhelming majority (87%) of passport applicants from Northern Ireland apply online and the considerable benefits of Passport Online for all of our citizens, the Department is of the view that a business case cannot currently be made for opening an additional passport office in Belfast.
The Passport Service continuously considers ways that it can improve its service to all of our citizens regardless of where they live and regularly reviews the range of passport services on offer while also strategically planning to respond to future needs.
Recent analysis of estimated costs to establish and run an additional passport office with approximately 25% of the number of staff currently employed in the main Dublin passport office for one year are outlined in the table below.
|
Staffing |
€3,000,000 |
|
Equipment (high security passport printing and automated mailing machines) |
€6,000,000 |
|
Operational Costs |
€1,000,000 |
|
|
|
|
Total: |
€10,000,000 |
Departmental Correspondence
Ceisteanna (91)
Brendan Griffin
Ceist:91. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52444/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The scheme to issue Working Holiday Authorisations (WHAs) is an important aspect of Ireland’s relationship with Canada. Ireland has a number of these reciprocal schemes with several non-European countries. These agreements support the development of people-to-people links, and create strong and lifelong connections between participants and the destination country.
The Working Holiday Agreement with Canada, in place since 2003, reflects the warm and close relationship Ireland enjoys with Canada. The scheme fosters personal, cultural and professional ties between our young people. Under the current agreement Irish people between the ages of 18-35 can apply for a visa, under the International Experience Canada programme, to live and work in Canada for up to two years. Each individual can avail of the working holiday arrangement only once and there are currently no plans to modify the existing agreement with Canada.
Initially when the reciprocal agreement with Canada was agreed in 2003, there were 100 places available each way. This number increased rapidly over the years to 6,350 by 2013 and then to 10,700 in 2014. Ireland continues to maintain this quota year on year. The same number of visas are available for young Canadian citizens to live and work in Ireland. In 2019 there were 461 working holiday authorisations issued by our Embassy in Ottawa for Canadians to come to Ireland under the scheme. We expect this number to increase in 2022 as post covid travel resumes.
Departmental Data
Ceisteanna (92)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Ceist:92. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide a list of the arms industry companies from Ireland and other parts of the world that attended the recent 6 October 2022 arms fair, organised by the Department of Defence in Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52081/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The event to which the Deputy refers took place on 6 October with the aim providing information to Irish industry and research institutions with a view to identifying opportunities to collaborate on future projects in the areas of security, defence and dual use technologies. The participants in the event were a range of industry and research organisations. It is important to clarify the actual purpose of the event and not to have it misrepresented.
The event was in support of Irish companies, especially SMEs, and Irish research institutions who are engaged in the development of technologies that enhance the capabilities of the Defence Forces and keep them safe, whether they are on missions and operations overseas or undertaking their range of duties at home in Ireland. These companies and research projects also create high-level employment across Ireland and export cutting edge technology around the world.
The event follows on from the 2021 publication by my Department and the Defence Forces of a Feasibility Study which, inter alia, identified the value of having a research technology and innovation capability within the Defence Organisation that focuses on technologies at lower technology readiness levels (TRL) that have broad potential utilisation in both the civil and security and defence spheres and on leveraging innovations from the civilian sector in a manner that offer potential benefits for our Defence Forces as well as for industry and academia.
The establishment of the Research, Technology and Innovation (RTI) Unit in Defence will set a new strategic direction for Defence innovation and collaboration in Ireland by driving internal innovation in the Defence Organisation and contributing to the development of a security and defence dual-use innovation eco-system. The Defence RTI Unit will also support Irish enterprise and research bodies in accessing EU funding streams, including through the European Defence Fund and the European Defence Agency and their engagement with European networks and SMEs across the EU.
Supporting Irish research and enterprise in accessing funding and in exploiting opportunities in capability development in the security and defence domain, and participation by such entities in such research and development opportunities, does not compromise Ireland's traditional policy of military neutrality. These initiatives do not involve Ireland becoming a member of a military alliance nor a participant in any mutual defence arrangements. I am satisfied that this event was consistent with Ireland's foreign policy, including our participation in the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy and our traditional policy of military neutrality.
A list of organisations, including industry, research and governmental organisations that registered and participated in the event can be found below. Press and media were also in attendance. The Secretary General of my Department, the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces and I all participated in the event.
The Azure Forum for Contemporary Security Strategy, Acustek, Adfulcrum, Aquila Bioscience, Arcon Consultants, A-techSYN, Aviareto limited, Beechbrook Capital, BonarHRD, Botanic Aviation Consultants Ltd, Science Foundation Ireland, Corballis Technologies, Cytec Consulting, Defensive Thinking, Department of Defence, EU Commission DG DEFIS, DPER, Enterprise Ireland, Finland Defence and Security Association, Fóla Partners, Icpnewtech ltd, IDA Ireland, Irish Center for Emergency Management, Irish Defence and Security Association, Irish Defence Forces, KX, Maynooth University, Mbryonics Ltd, Microsoft, Millennia Aviation, National Space Centre, Nexter, Nokia, Oracle, PA Consulting, PACE, RBSL, Reamda ltd, Rohde & Schwarz, Scope ITR Ltd, South East Technological University, Timoney Technology, Trinity College Dublin, University College Dublin, University of Limerick, Vedette Consulting, Vocavio Technologies, VRAI.