Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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16. To ask the Minister for Defence if he will provide an updated list of countries from outside the EU from which his Department and the Defence Forces purchase equipment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6899/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The priority for the procurement of defensive equipment by the Department of Defence is to maintain the capability of the Irish Defence Forces at home and 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 embargoes or restrictions.

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. This is based on 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 and as required 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.