Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Building up our radar is very much on the agenda and it is a recommendation we accepted from the Commission on the Defence Forces. A project team comprising senior civil and military personnel has commenced work on planning for this. It includes ground-based, maritime and primary radar systems. It is one of the early actions identified in the high-level action plan. Primary radar is extremely complex and will take some time to commission, install and operate. Delivery, however, is being prioritised. This year’s increased capital application for defence includes funding to explore the development of primary radar capability. I am told that the requirements for the delivery of military radar across various domains, including primary radar, are extremely complex and will need to have regard to emerging priorities, operational requirements and changes in technology. These all need to be considered in the first instance before any detailed planning in relation to site locations can be undertaken, but there have been some site visits to other member states to see how it is best done. I assure Deputy Berry that this is something I will take an interest in and I know the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence will as well. This will form part of our discussions with the senior staff of the Defence Forces and the Department of Defence.

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