Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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286. To ask the Minister for Defence his views on the Defence Forces' policy of purchasing weapons from countries engaged in conflicts contrary to the UN charter; if he will provide a manifest on purchases of military hardware, outlining from what nations these have been or are planned to be acquired; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43149/14]

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 maintain 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. Tender competitions for defensive equipment for the Defence Forces are conducted by the Department of Defence in accordance with EU procurement guidelines and are open to any individual or country in accordance with the terms of all UN, OSCE and EU arms embargos or restrictions. The matter of barring any country engaged in conflicts contrary to the UN Charter from entering tender competitions would be covered in this context.

The principle of competitive tendering for Government contracts is used by the Department of Defence for the acquisition of defensive equipment for the Defence Forces. Central to those procedures is the requirement to allow fair competition between suppliers through the submission of tenders following advertising of the tender competition usually on the e-tenders site in line with the EU Directive on the procurement of Defence and Security equipment. In following the required procurement 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.

Investment in new equipment for the Defence Forces, including the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service, and the on-going maintenance support of and training on that equipment, is provided for under various Subheads of the Defence Vote. The main particular Subheads involved relate to defensive equipment, military transport, aircraft, ships and naval stores, communications and information technology equipment.

Taking into account the level of expenditure involved over the years, a wide range of military equipment is in operational service with the Defence Forces at home and on overseas missions. In that context, it is not the practice to provide any itemised manifest of such equipment purchased as to do so could, in particular circumstances, compromise operational and security factors for the Defence o rganisation.