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

I listened with interest to the Minister of State's response to Deputy Lisa Chambers. Is the Minister of State aware that there is a defence or military industry in Ireland? On the Order of Business today a Deputy from the county where Timoney is based appealed for the purchase of more military equipment from Timoney. There is also a huge industry in respect of dual use goods, including some which go to Israel for military purposes.

There was a concern when the European Defence Agency was proposed in the Lisbon treaty that this was exactly where it was going. The Minister of State’s response to Deputy Chambers is quite pathetic because he is not willing to take a position. What is the Government's position on this proposal? We know the proposal is to increase EU spending on military goods in research and divert money away from its current use for social good to military spend.

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