Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The EDA is more a procurement agency to assist us in procuring equipment, weaponry and so forth. Perhaps the Deputy is referring to the PESCO projects, which is a separate initiative. We are currently participating in four PESCO projects: upgraded maritime surveillance; deployable military disaster relief capability packages; maritime autonomous systems for mine countermeasures; and a cyber threats and incident response information-sharing platform. We are observer status on a further 20 projects. I can supply the full list.

Drug interdiction is all about intelligence, collaboration and agencies working together nationally and internationally. There is success there. I visited in Colombia recently. We have a superintendent garda out there in our embassy working with Colombian police forces in sharing of intelligence around narcotics and drug trafficking. That type of exchange of information is key to tracking the shipments, being in a position to know where they are going, and intercepting when most appropriate.

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