Middle East

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 April 2024

Tuesday, 9 April 2024

Ceisteanna (137)

Réada Cronin

Ceist:

137. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence whether the RTI unit has examined, and is satisfied, that member-based organisations and/or companies, either Irish or multi-national Irish based, with which it confers, consults or liaises on matters of defence and security, have no financial or other material interest in Israeli companies, companies in the OPT, or engage in activities beneficial to or related to the IDF or any other Israeli military or security operations, given Israel’s ongoing actions in Gaza that fit the definition of Torture, War Crimes and Ethnic Cleansing, with ‘Plausible Genocide’ under active consideration by the ICJ. [13852/24]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Defence

The Research, Technology and Innovation Unit (RTI) within my Department carries out the role of Horizon Scanning.  This includes consultation with Industry and Academia to maintain the capabilities of the Defence Forces to fulfil the roles as assigned by Government.  This includes undertaking overseas Peace Support Operations.

RTI carries out its horizon scanning role in accordance with legal rules in place when dealing with Industry for procurement. In accordance with the terms of all UN, OSCE and EU arms embargos or restrictions.  There are no such restrictions or embargos in place on Israeli companies.

In following these guidelines and codes, RTI must deal impartially with all Industry that are entitled to enter the Departments procurement competitions.

I am satisfied that this is the appropriate way in which to continue, rather than Ireland taking any unilateral decision to target individual companies or countries in that respect.