Written answers

Thursday, 8 November 2007

Department of Justice, Equality and Defence

Defence Forces Equipment

5:00 pm

Photo of Aengus Ó SnodaighAengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 33: To ask the Minister for Defence his views on whether, following on from his response of 4 October 2007, that the Israeli army has regularly used unmanned drones not merely for surveillance but also for the targeted assassination of Palestinian militants, and used them extensively in 2006 in the course of its war against Lebanon, it is inappropriate and insensitive for the Irish Defence Forces to source such drones from Israel and that coming so soon after the purchase of Israeli helmets by the Defence Forces this transaction could be seen as associating this State too closely with the militarism of the Israeli State. [27303/07]

Photo of Tom KittTom Kitt (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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In the Minister's reply to the Deputy's Question on 4 October, 2007, he outlined the background to the tender competition, which resulted in an order for two (2) man portable mini Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for the Defence Forces being placed with Aeronautics Defense Systems Limited based in Israel.

The principle of competitive tendering for Government contracts is used for the acquisition of defensive equipment for the Army. Central to those procedures is the requirement to allow fair competition between suppliers through the submission of tenders which are assessed on the basis of obtaining best value for money by the Department of Defence. The acquisition of the UAVs, scheduled for delivery by the end of this year, and the acquisition of helmets from companies in Israel followed on from such tender competitions.

I am advised that the UAV systems are required to enhance the capability of the Defence Forces to carry out surveillance and target acquisition for overseas Peace Support Operations. They will provide a low cost and low risk means to increase capabilities and enhance force protection by performing missions without requiring or risking the use of manned aircraft. The UAV's, are an information gathering asset and are unarmed.

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