Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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48. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to review procurement procedures in the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23261/17]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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The procurement of goods and services by the Defence Forces is carried out in accordance with public procurement policy and national and European Union law. Procurement procedures in the Defence Forces are kept under constant review to ensure they are in line with best practice, guidance and the legal framework.

A wide range of non-capital goods and services are procured directly by the Defence Forces. These include items associated with day-to-day operations such as food, clothing, transport, utilities and the maintenance of equipment and premises. The services of the Office of Government Procurement and centralised framework agreements are also used to acquire items that may be in common demand in the Public Sector. Other programmes of expenditures such as capital expenditure on major defensive equipment platforms for the Army, Naval Service and the Air Corps are managed by officials in my Department. However, in practice there is close civil-military collaboration on a daily basis in respect of a variety of procurement projects.

The procurement policies, procedures and applicable legislation in place are designed to ensure that the highest standards of integrity, fairness, legality, confidentiality and disclosure of interest are applied to all procurement related transactions. All relevant procurement regulations including those set out in the Public Procurement Guidelines – Competitive Process are applied to ensure that competition is promoted, value for money secured and openness and transparency assured.

Public procurement rules are adapted to the specificities of defence procurements, which can be particularly complex and sensitive. Procurement of defence and security equipment such as weapons, munitions and material for defence purposes is carried out in accordance with EU Directive 2009/90/EC. This is a specific Directive relating to the award of contracts dealing with the defence and security area which provides rules that enhance transparency and openness in defence markets while also ensuring that individual countries’ security concerns are protected. This Directive was transposed into Irish law by way of implementing S.I. No. 62 of 2012.

Procurement is also carried out in accordance with the requirements of the Public Spending Code, published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. The Code is designed to ensure that the State gets the best possible value for resources at its disposal. The requirements of the Code are based on employing best practices at all stages of the equipment expenditure cycle.

Procedures are in place in the Defence Organisation to provide a forum for oversight and approval of expenditure and to ensure that expenditure is profiled and monitored on an ongoing basis. In this regard a High Level Planning and Procurement Group (HLPPG) comprising of senior civil and military management of the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces, and an associated Working Group meet on a monthly basis. The Group also develops and implements multi-annual rolling plans for the Defence Forces for equipment procurement and disposal and infrastructural development (including property acquisition) based on the policy priorities in the White Paper.

I am advised that procurement procedures in the Defence Forces are kept under constant review to support good procurement practice, project management and good corporate governance, and to ensure that tender processes are carried out in an appropriate manner.