Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

The European political community strongly supports the increased militarisation of the Continent. Last year, global arms expenditure hit its highest-ever level. It would seem the Government is encouraging Irish companies to jump aboard this arms expenditure trade. The former Minister for Defence, Deputy Coveney, said last year that: "even though the perception is that Ireland does not have a defence industry, actually, in terms of the contribution that many Irish companies make in regard to dual-use goods, we have extraordinary capacity in this country".

The Galway session of the forum that starts in Cork tomorrow will involve an entire session on Irish research on innovation in security and defence. That can be dressed up however you please but this is a forum session on Ireland tapping into the global arms race. What say you?

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