Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 44: To ask the Minister for Defence if the Defence Forces will be replacing the existing FN pistols; the stage any such replacement programme is at; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31925/05]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

A tender competition is currently in train to replace the existing FN 9mm Browning automatic pistol within the Defence Forces. Proposals have been received and are under evaluation by a project evaluation team. The requirement is for up to 1,400 new pistols.

It is expected that a contract will be placed in the first quarter of 2006 but this is dependent on how long the technical evaluation and the subsequent field trials of the pistols takes. As the tender competition is in train, the Deputy will appreciate I cannot disclose any further information in the matter at this stage.