Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

117. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if officials from his Department attended a briefing arranged by the Defence Forces and an organisation in November 2024 (details supplied); the number of times and the dates on which officials from his Department met with the organisation in the past three years; who was in attendance, to furnish minutes of each meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3082/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Irish Defence and Security Association (IDSA) was established in 2021 with a mission “to ensure Ireland develops appropriate, leading edge and trusted defence and security capabilities in the land, sea, air, space and cyber domains, in order to protect our society, create jobs, drive research and enhance Ireland’s economic growth”.

National Defence Industry Associations’ (NDIA's) are the norm in many EU Member States, providing support to industry operating in defence markets in a number of ways, by creating networks, disseminating information and assisting contractors to find suitable sub-contractors. They are important for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and in that context the IDSA plays a role in enhancing awareness between Irish industry and my Department through periodic engagement.

Dates of meetings where officials from my Department have met with the IDSA over the past three years, and the relevant attendees are listed below.

In addition to the meetings listed above, officials from my Department participated in two events organised by the IDSA on 12th June and 13^th November 2024. Department Officials that attended the 12^th June event were the Head of the Capability Development Branch and the November 13^th event was attended by the Head of the Strategic Change and Capability Development Division and the Head of EU/Industry Engagement Branch.

The IDSA have also participated in the two Defence networking and information events organised by my Department, on the 6th October 2022 in the Aviva Stadium Dublin and the 1st November 2023 in the Aishling Hotel Dublin. On the margins of the 6th October event, then Defence Minister Coveney and Secretary General McCrum had a very brief informal introduction to the IDSA.