Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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528. To ask the Minister for Defence the amount the Defence Forces have spent on purchasing arms and equipment from Israeli companies in the past 15 years; if he wil provide a breakdown of the figures according to year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33030/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, 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 on overseas Peace Support Operations and to afford the greatest possible force protection to Irish troops whilst on such missions.

A number of Israeli companies have won orders for defensive equipment over the last decade as a result of tender competitions. Since 2005, the Department has purchased small arms ammunition, X-Ray equipment for Explosive Ordnance Disposal duties (EOD), helmets for personal protection, an Artillery Fire Control System, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, commonly referred to as UAVs, a Surveillance and Target Acquisition Suite for four Light Tactical Armoured vehicles and Ground Surveillance Radars from Israeli suppliers.

The total value of defensive equipment involved since 2005 is in the region of €14.7m, exclusive of VAT. In each case, the main contract was awarded by tender competition, conducted impartially on the basis that the company concerned had submitted the best tender. The attached Tabular Statement contains a list of all contracts awarded for defensive equipment by the Department of Defence’s Contracts Branch to Israeli companies since 2005. The information sought in relation to the previous six years is not readily available within the Department.

Tender competitions for defensive equipment for the Defence Forces are conducted by the Department of Defence in accordance with EU procurement guidelines and with the EU Code of Conduct on Export Controls. Accordingly, competitions are open to any individual or country in accordance with the terms of all UN, OSCE and EU arms embargos or restrictions. To properly follow these guidelines and codes, the Department of Defence must deal impartially with all companies that are entitled to enter its procurement competitions and must evaluate tenders on the basis of objective criteria.

Tabular Statement: Goods ordered from Israeli Companies from 2005 to 2014