Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

A wide range of goods and services is procured by the Department and the Defence Forces to ensure the Defence Forces can carry out their day-to-day roles at home and overseas.

Procurement for the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces is provided for under various subheads of the Defence Vote. The subheads relate to, inter alia, defensive equipment, mechanical transport, aircraft, Naval Service ships and stores, property, building and engineering, communications and information technology equipment. There are also procurement sections in the Defence Forces with responsibility for the provision of barrack service items, utilities services and a range of food-related items.

In that context I am advised a considerable amount of contracts and orders of variable values is placed for a wide range of goods and services on a weekly, monthly and yearly basis throughout the Department and the Defence Forces. As such, I regret that I am not in a position to provide the information sought by the Deputy in my reply this afternoon.

I have asked the relevant officials in my Department to collate the information required over the five-year period referred to in the question. With the agreement of the Deputy, I propose that the information should relate to substantive contracts relative to defensive equipment acquired for core military functions with a value of €125,000, exclusive of VAT. However, if there is a more specific sector of interest for which the Deputy may require information, perhaps he would let me know. I will ensure the information is sent to the Deputy at the first available opportunity.

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