Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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39. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he has had discussions at EU level with a view to delivering better value for money when purchasing new equipment platforms for the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23326/17]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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This question relates to the extent to which the Minister of State has had discussions with his EU colleagues in utilising the economies of scale that may accrue from purchasing new equipment platforms through the general thrust of the European Union being the larger single market.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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The primary purpose for the procurement of defensive equipment by the Department of Defence is to enhance the capability of the Irish Defence Forces and to afford the greatest possible force protection to Irish troops on domestic operations and overseas peace support operations. The White Paper on Defence identified, as key operational priorities, the replacement of major equipment platforms across the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service and the initiation of infrastructural development programmes. The Department is currently engaged in work on a new equipment development plan covering the next five years.

At EU level, there is a range of initiatives in the area of capability development that are in place or are currently being discussed. These include Ireland’s participation in the European Defence Agency, EDA. Ireland has participated in the European Defence Agency since it was established in 2004. The primary reason for Ireland’s participation in the European Defence Agency is to support the development of Defence Forces capabilities for peacekeeping and international crisis management operations.

Ireland also participates in a collaborative database which is managed by the EDA. This database provides a platform for engaging with other member states on a number of fronts, including collaborative or joint procurement.

Plans are under way in the EU for the development of the Permanent Structured Cooperation, PESCO. It is envisaged under this structure that member states would collaborate in the development and acquisition of essential capabilities for Common Security and Defence Policy, CSDP, operations in the area of international crisis management. Any participation by Ireland in PESCO will be entirely voluntary, as provided in the Lisbon treaty protocols, and will be subject to the approval of Dáil Éireann in accordance with the provisions of the Defence (Amendment) Act 2006.

The Coordinated Annual Review on Defence, CARD, initiative aims to create greater transparency among member states in sharing information on future defence policy, capability development, budgets and investment. It is expected that such transparency will support greater collaboration among member states on investment in capabilities.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House

The initiative recognises that Defence policy, including defence spending, is entirely a national competence. Any information sharing will be conducted on a strictly voluntary basis.

In regard to the European Defence Action Plan, EDAP, the action plan was adopted by the College of Commissioners in November 2016. The aim of the plan is to explore how EU policies and instruments can ensure that the EU’s industrial and skills base will be able to deliver the required defence capabilities in view of current and future security challenges. There are proposals in the plan to increase transparency in relation to defence procurement to make it more open and transparent.

A key objective of the aforementioned EU initiatives is to increase collaboration in the development and acquisition of capabilities.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive reply. This is a question I have raised on numerous occasions over the past number of years, namely, the equipping of the Defence Forces. Does the Minister of State see an opportunity in the context of the discussions now taking place to modernise our Defence Forces and their equipment at all levels in a way that is required in order to bring them up to international best practice and standards?

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Over the last number of years, the Government has invested €250 million in the ships replacement programme. At the moment, our armoured personnel carriers are being refurbished at a total value of €55 million. We have also issued a tender for the replacement of the Cessna aircraft in the Air Corps. It is important in any investment we make in the Defence Forces that there is a provision - there is one in Europe - in regard to how we can get better value for money for the taxpayer in working and collaborating with our close EU neighbours in terms of investment in machinery or otherwise for the betterment of the Irish Defence Forces.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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In the course of the discussions now taking place, can the Minister of State quantify the extent to which benefits from lower costs can be achieved through the aegis of the European Union? What is the extent of the contract to replace the Cessna aircraft? Is it intended to have a new contract with Cessna, or will different aircraft be considered?

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Can the Minister of State give a commitment that the Defence Forces and the Department will engage in ethical purchasing when purchasing equipment in the future? Some €1.9 million has been spent on purchasing military drones from Israel and, over the last five years, €5.8 million has been spent on military equipment purchased by the Defence Forces from Israeli companies. These companies are in a country that abuses human rights.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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We will stick to our neutrality policies when operating with other countries.

To respond to Deputy Durkan, when I go abroad and visit our troops, whether in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, UNIFIL, or in the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force, UNDOF, we are the envy of other countries when it comes to our equipment, the level of equipment we have and the value for money we are getting for our investment. We put the replacement for the Cessna out for tender, so if a company wants to tender for the new aircraft, it is welcome to do so. We stick to our policy of neutrality when it comes to negotiating or collaborating with other countries.