Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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61. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the way in which partnerships have been encouraged between the Defence Forces and the private sector in the County Kildare area with a view to increased research, innovation and enterprise development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39822/16]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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There is an ongoing requirement to examine new and innovative means of improving capabilities in the security and the defence domain, so that the Defence Forces are in a position to undertake the roles assigned by Government.

On that basis, the Government approved arrangements in July 2011, 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.

The Government decision allowed for greater engagement with EI and EI supported companies which could contribute to Defence Forces capabilities across the full range of its activities.

The Government’s White Paper on Defence states that my Department will “identify opportunities for cooperative-collaborative engagement between the Defence Forces and Irish-based enterprise and research institutes, including third level colleges”. In line with this, work is ongoing to further develop the Defence Enterprise Initiative.

Projects proposed by institutes and companies, where they are seeking to partner with, or involve, Defence Forces participation are submitted to the Defence Enterprise Committee for consideration. The Defence Enterprise Committee consists of personnel from the Department of Defence, the Defence Forces and Enterprise Ireland. All capabilities to be researched are vetted and agreed at the highest level in the Defence Organisation to ensure compatibility with the roles assigned to the Defence Forces by the Government.

The engagement is targeted at companies and research institutes which have relevant technologies or are developing technologies which can support Defence Force capabilities and does not target specific geographical area. However, I am aware of two projects involving the Defence Forces and Kildare based companies, one of which was part of a successful bid for Horizion 2020 funding in 2016.

Another Kildare company has been involved with the Irish Maritime Energy and Resource Cluster (IMERC) on an ongoing basis since 2010. IMERC is a partnership of the Naval Service, University College Cork, and Cork Institute of Technology. This research and commercial cluster aims to realise Ireland’s economic potential in the global, maritime and energy markets and brings together expertise in the fields of energy engineering, maritime operations, maritime technology and ecosystem governance. In collaboration with IMERC, the Naval Service is involved in a number of research initiatives in the maritime domain.

My Department and the Defence Forces will continue to provide assistance to EI and companies supported by EI in 2017 and beyond.