Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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231. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if there are live tenders for the purchase of equipment such as armaments, clothing, ammunition, vehicles and so on; if there are contracts for the purchase of defensive equipment due to go to tender within the next six months; if so, the type of defensive equipment to be purchased, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48375/17]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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232. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the live and upcoming tenders for the purchase of defensive equipment; the date of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48376/17]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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233. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the contracts awarded to Israeli companies for the purchase of equipment, goods or services procured from Israeli based firms and companies over the past ten years by his Department or the Defence Forces; the value of each contract awarded; the nature of the goods procured under each contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48377/17]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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234. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 62 of 17 May 2017, the number of firms that submitted tenders for the contract on the purchase of drones for the Defence Forces; the names of all such companies, the countries in which each firm was based; the difference in monetary terms between the value of the contract awarded and the next lowest tender; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48378/17]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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235. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if EU legislation, the EUROMED agreement or the EU Neighbourhood Agreements provide for the refusal to award a contract for the purchase of military or defensive equipment in circumstances in which there is reason to believe that the equipment may have been used or manufactured by those involved in the commission of significant atrocities and human rights abuses; the circumstances in which such provisions may be enacted; if such provision may be enacted by a member state unilaterally; if the government has ever enacted such provision; if he has ever sought or received legal advice on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48379/17]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 231 to 235, inclusive, together.

The primary focus for the procurement of defensive equipment by the Department of Defence is to maintain the capability of the Irish Defence Forces to fulfil the roles as assigned by Government. This includes undertaking overseas Peace Support Operations, and in this regard to afford the greatest possible force protection to Irish troops whilst on all missions.

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. Central to those procedures is the requirement to allow fair competition between suppliers through the submission of tenders following advertising of the tender competition on the e-tenders site and on the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU), where appropriate, in line with the EU procurement directives, including the Directive on the procurement of Defensive and Security Equipment. Details of tender competitions can be accessed on the Government’s eTenders website www.etenders.gov.ie .

Such tender competitions are open to any company or country in accordance with the terms of all UN, OSCE and EU arms embargoes or restrictions. In following these 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.

The matter of barring companies or countries from entering tender competitions for the provision of military goods would be akin to Ireland unilaterally placing an embargo and this raises, inter alia, serious implications for Irish foreign policy which are outside my remit.

Trade policy and market access are largely EU competencies and any restriction or ban on imports from any particular country would have to be concerted at EU level.

The manner in which the Department of Defence procures both goods and services remains consistent with international best practice and is in line with EU and UN decisions on trade embargoes. I am satisfied that this is the appropriate way in which to continue, rather than Ireland taking any unilateral decision to target individual companies or countries in that respect.

As I outlined in my response to Parliamentary Question Number 62 of 17 May 2017 regarding the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) currently operated by the Defence Forces, 4 UAV Systems were procured between 2007 and 2009 from Aeronautics Defense Systems Ltd based in Israel following a competitive tender process. An upgrade of the Defence Forces UAV systems was carried out by Aeronautic Defense Systems as the original equipment manufacturer in 2016. This involved the upgrade of 4 UAV systems, with 3 airframes in each system. A number of additional simulators and pneumatic launchers have also been procured.

Details of the contracts awarded to Israeli companies for defensive equipment and services over the past ten years, including the UAV systems, are set out in the following table.

Tabular Statement: Goods/Services ordered from Israeli Companies from 2007 to 2017