Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Ireland has no operational military co-operation with Israel. The Defence Forces have no regular contact with the Israel Defence Forces, and Ireland does not buy any military equipment directly from the Israeli Government.

The primary focus for the procurement of defence equipment by the Department of Defence is to maintain the capability of the Defence Forces to fulfil the roles as assigned by Government. This includes undertaking overseas peace support operations, and in this regard to afford the greatest possible force protection to Irish troops while on all missions.

The principle of competitive tendering for government contracts is used by the Department of Defence for the acquisition of defence equipment for the Defence Forces. Central to those procedures is the requirement to allow fair competition between suppliers through the submission of tenders. This follows advertising of the tender competition on www.etenders.gov.ieand on the Official Journal of the European Union, where appropriate. This in line with the EU procurement directives.

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