Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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17. To ask the Minister for Defence his plans to provide the international defence industry with increased access to the Irish Defence Forces for product testing, particularly in view of their inability to control where the weapons appear. [34263/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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In July 2011, the Government approved arrangements, whereby Enterprise Ireland (EI) would support the Department of Defence and Defence Forces capability development through engagement with Irish-based enterprise and research institutes on the use and application of innovative civilian technologies in the military sphere. At the time of the decision, the Defence Forces were already engaged with Irish enterprise and various consortia in support of research on a range of capabilities. This engagement included EU funded research projects under framework 7 and Horizon 2020 and projects being undertaken within the framework of the European Defence Agency. The Government decision allowed for greater engagement with Enterprise Ireland (EI) and EI supported companies which could contribute to Defence Forces capabilities across the full range of its activities. Subject to the provisions of the Defence (Miscellaneous Provisions Act) 2009, the Defence Forces also participate in relevant capability development projects at European level under the umbrella of the European Defence Agency. Enterprise Ireland also support Irish based enterprise and research institutes in accessing research opportunities in the European Defence Agency. 

Through the Irish Maritime Energy and Resource Cluster (IMERC), which is a partnership of the Naval Service, University College Cork, and Cork Institute of Technology, the Naval Service has been involved in various initiatives with Enterprise Ireland within its capability requirements sphere . Essentially these are dual use projects where the technologies have application in both the civil and military field.

The Defence Forces are a military force. Given the nature of their role on robust overseas operations, they need access to the latest communications and surveillance technologies and weapons systems in order to carry out their duties safely and effectively. This means having weapons guidance systems, simulators, surveillance systems, communications, robots and drones along with all the other elements of force protection.

I can confirm that there are no proposals to support the development of an armaments industry in Ireland. However, there are opportunities to develop new technologies and to further develop and enhance existing systems and capabilities which will have dual military and civil application through engagement between Irish enterprise and research centres and the Defence Forces. The aim is to maximise synergies across both the civil and military domains and to develop leading edge technology and systems here in Ireland.