Cathal Berry (Kildare South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am actually on my own. I very much welcome the proposal before us today, which proposes that Ireland opt into an additional four European Defence Agency projects. Three have to do with procurement and one has to do with cybersecurity. They make perfect sense.

I will address the procurement projects first. The first has to do with soldiers' equipment. This refers to personal protective equipment like body armour, helmets, ballistic glasses and ballistic gloves. The House will know that we have suffered one Irish fatality overseas in the last 12 months. A number of people have also been wounded in action. We cannot always eliminate the risk but we can certainly mitigate against it. That is why this equipment is so important for our own personnel.

The proposal on chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear, CBRN, equipment again relates to protective equipment. It is very important for our own people. We have limited stocks here in Ireland. We all know what is happening in Zaporizhzhia, where the largest nuclear power plant in Europe is located, at the moment. The risk of interference there is low but rising and it is important that Ireland has the means to look after its own people and, perhaps, to donate some material to Ukraine, if required, because it is non-lethal equipment.

A lot of people may not be aware, but ammunition procurement in Ireland is shambolic. It is an absolute disaster. It is really cumbersome, overly bureaucratic and highly inefficient. It is not being run by the military, which has little say in what is being done, but it is being done in a piecemeal fashion. A number of soldiers this year were not able to conduct their annual personal weapons test on particular weapons because the particular type and quantity of ammunition was not available. Anything that streamlines the ammunition procurement process is a good thing from Ireland's perspective.

Most people will agree that we would prefer if we did not need an army and that we were living in a peaceful world. However, we recognise there is a need in the current situation to have a defence force. Most people would agree that an army needs to be armed, so we are left with two choices. We can design, procure and build our own weapons and ammunition in this country or we can buy them in from abroad. I think we have to buy them in from abroad. That is the decision we have taken, and the policy we have adopted. Because of that we have to make sure we do so in as efficient a way as possible. I am in favour of these proposals from the perspective of procurement for three primary reasons. It will make them more reliable. We will have more reliable, quicker and cheaper access. The Minister of State probably does not have the figures to hand. I am not even sure if a value for money exercise has been done. Is there any indication that we would get equipment and ammunition cheaper by using this process? If we were buying in bulk with our European colleagues, would it shave 10% or 20% off? If the Minister of State had those figures to hand, it would be useful.

I also welcome the cybersecurity part of the project. Ireland does not have the expertise, especially from a military cyber point of view. We have been sending our troops abroad for 100 years to acquire skills and expertise. They bring them back and plough them into our own organisation. It costs €60,000 per year for four years. That is money well spent. It means we can send people on exercises and courses. Again, we can get the information, bring it back and enhance our cyber resilience in this country.

I have no objection to the amendment that was mentioned. The Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence is a proactive and constructive cross-party committee. If it were to be referred, that would make perfect sense for us. We could do it in short order. I do not think these proposals are time sensitive at all. I agree with a standing arrangement, where anything to do with military, defence or foreign affairs could first be referred to the committee for scrutiny. It would provide at least some assurance to the larger Chamber that it has been forensically scrutinised and nothing untoward or sinister is taking place.

In summary, I welcome these proposals. I am happy to support them. I am also happy to support the amendment. It makes sense. I do not detect anything sinister or untoward. I detect a State apparatus trying to provide for its own troops, which is what one would expect. If we do not provide the PPE and ammunition to protect people, that would be reckless and irresponsible. I am happy to support the motion and the amendment.

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