Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Subhead A8 indicates €23 million is spent on procurement, basically, for replacing and upgrading existing equipment. There are ethical guidelines when the procurement is done. When I was a spokesperson on this issue for the party, I made a big deal about how we purchase military equipment from Israel, for example, although that is not the only place from where we buy equipment. Is that a factor in purchasing from overseas companies or countries with a dubious track record with respect to human rights violations? Some companies have been involved in supplying weapons to countries whose armies are involved with major human rights breaches.

I associate myself with the praise for the operations in the Mediterranean by the Naval Service. We have set a standard that other countries should follow, given how small is our navy. I hope that with the purchase of the new vessel, we may be able to contribute more. Is there an additional cost for counselling of those involved, given what they see day in, day out on the Mediterranean? It is something that should be considered, although perhaps it may be somewhere else in budget. From what I have heard from people on the ground and on various islands, there can be harrowing scenes day in, day out. I assume that what people in the Naval Service see would not be wished on anybody. It will have an effect so it is important that the issue be considered, given the length of the operation and the likelihood it will continue.

The new vessel is being purchased at €67 million, as the Minister of State mentioned. He argued it represents excellent value. Three other ships were purchased - the LE Samuel Beckett, LE James Joyce and LE William Butler Yeats- at €199 million. One of them was only €46 million. Perhaps they are different ship types but I do not know why this ship seems to come at a greater cost than previous purchases.

The Minister of State mentioned the commemorations and I associate myself with his comments on the role played by the Defence Forces in the commemorative programme. The role they had in presenting flags to schools will have an effect in future. There should be no difficulty in recruiting to the Army or the Reserve Defence Forces, given the enthusiasm I saw in any of the schools I attended when the flag was being presented. They should be commended for that, the way they carried themselves and how they reflected the Defence Forces in the events organised. There is no cost for that in the Estimate but perhaps it was assumed within existing costs.

The grants to the veterans' association of €55,000 seems small but I do not have previous figures to measure it against. An increase could be considered. Subhead A23 relates to questions I put to the Minister of State a couple of weeks ago about our transfer to the EU battle group. The battle group run by the British is English-speaking and there will be a cost involved in switching. As the UK is to leave the European Union, we could ask if it was worthwhile making the change or whether we might have been better staying with the Nordic group.