Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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812. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if the LÉ Samuel Beckett has embarked on a trip to London to attend an arms fair (details supplied); if so, the purpose of this trip; the body funding it; the name of the person that proposed and approved the Naval Service's attendance at this event; his views on whether it is appropriate that a navy ship from a neutral country attend an international arms fair; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39322/17]

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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813. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of Defence Forces personnel and Department staff that are attending the defence and security equipment conference in London; the cost of attending this event for members of the Defence Forces and Department staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39334/17]

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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814. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if Naval Service ships are present at the defence and security equipment conference in London; if so, the cost of the attendance; the duties which have not been carried out while the ship has been present in London; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39335/17]

Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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815. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the purpose for which the Naval Service vessel, the LÉ Samuel Beckett is attending an international arms fair in London; the other members of the Defence Forces attending this arms fair; if the exchequer is funding this excursion; if so, the cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39434/17]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 812 to 815, inclusive, together.

A Naval Service vessel, LÉ Samuel Beckett, attended the bi-annual Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) exhibition in London last week. The event ran from Tuesday 12th September 2017 to Friday 15th September 2017. The visit of the ship followed a request from Babcock International, the company responsible for the build of LÉ Samuel Beckettand her sister ships in the Naval Service fleet, LÉ James Joyceand LÉ William Butler Yeats. Babcock International is currently in the middle of building a 4th sister Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) for the Irish Naval Service which is due for delivery in 2018. This ship is to be named LÉ George Bernard Shaw.

The attendance of LÉ Samuel Beckettat the exhibition was an opportunity to portray, to a wide audience, the considerable level of commitment and investment made in recent years towards protecting and safeguarding Irish territorial waters, by showcasing the success of the Offshore Patrol Vessel design and build capabilities. This design and build process for the current OPVs has involved a long and cooperative contractual relationship with the Department of Defence and the Naval Service with Babcock International’s Appledore shipbuilding facility in Devon in the UK. LÉ Róisínand LÉ Niamhwere also built in the same shipyard, some fifteen or more years ago. Given the Department’s and the Naval Service’s involvement with the company during the course of the shipbuilding contracts, I approved a positive recommendation from my Department for the attendance of the ship.

It is not considered that the attendance of the ship at the event compromised our neutrality in any manner. In that regard, it is clearly understood that Ireland will continue to maintain a policy of military neutrality characterised by non-membership of military alliances and non-participation in common or mutual defence arrangements.

No additional advantage or benefit was received by the Naval Service or the Department of Defence, and no additional costs arose to the Defence Organisation as a result of the attendance of the ship at the exhibition.

In addition to the attendance of LÉ Samuel Beckett, the event was attended by a number of Department of Defence and Defence Forces personnel. This is standard practice within the Defence Organisation and attendance of personnel has been a feature at previous exhibitions. It is best practice in Defence acquisition to carry out product and services research at major shows of this nature. The estimated cost of travel and subsistence for the attendance of these personnel is €4,500.

The purpose was to visit the many exhibition stands involving the wide range of companies that the Defence Organisation deals with on a regular basis. These include companies involved in the land, sea and air environments, all of which are of interest to the Defence Organisation given the various roles of the Defence Forces at home and overseas. It was also an opportunity to visit the stands of several Irish companies exhibiting.

The exhibition provided personnel with a valuable opportunity to meet key suppliers across the full spectrum of military and defence equipment and activities. This ties in to the primary purpose for the procurement of such defensive equipment by the Department of Defence which is to enhance the capability of the Defence Forces. Attendance at such events is necessary to ensure that the Defence Forces retain the capabilities to fulfil all roles assigned by Government both at home and overseas.