Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 14 and 15 together.

The Defence Forces currently operate the Aeronautics Defence Orbiter UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) system which is an unarmed platform used to conduct reconnaissance operations, i.e. non-lethal operations.

Following a competitive tender process, 4 Orbiter UAV Systems were procured between 2007 and 2009 from Aeronautics Defense Systems Ltd. An upgrade of the Defence Forces UAV systems was carried out by Aeronautic Defense Systems as the original equipment manufacturer, commencing in 2016. This involved the upgrade of 4 UAV systems, with 3 airframes in each system. Ongoing expenditure since this upgrade relates to annual support, spares, repairs & training in respect of the Defence Forces existing fleet of unarmed UAV.

The platform is planned to continue in service until it reaches end of life, at which stage a replacement will be considered in the context of Defence Forces capability development and available funding, against the backdrop of the overall Equipment Development Plan process and in line with public procurement procedures.

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 procurement procedures are EU law requirements that have to be complied with. This is to ensure fair competition, transparency and equal treatment between suppliers through the advertising of the tender competition on the e-Tenders or the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) tender platforms.

Such tender competitions are open to any company or country subject to the terms of all UN, OSCE and EU arms embargos or restrictions. There are no such restrictions or embargos in place on Israel or Israeli companies.

Trade policy and market access are largely EU competencies. Both the EU and Israel are members of GATT which has established a Government procurement agreement under which EU Member States and Israel can participate in procurement competitions hosted by each other.

Under both GATT and EU procurement law requirements, the Department of Defence is required to deal impartially with all companies that are entitled to enter tender competitions and tenders must be evaluated on the basis of objective criteria.

The table below lists payments to Aeronautic Defence Systems in respect of Orbiter UAV systems since 2007.