Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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17. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence to provide details of all meetings between Ministers and officials of his Department with the Irish Defence and Security Association from January 2020 to present, to include dates, venues, minutes and attendees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3817/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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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.

Engagement between the IDSA and the Department of Defence provides a structure for the sharing of information regarding the European Defence Fund and other opportunities that could prove beneficial to Irish industry, SMEs and research institutes.

Dates of meetings since January 2020, where officials from my Department have met with the IDSA to progress these objectives, and the relevant venues and 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 13th November 2024. The Department Official that attended the 12th June event in the Aishling Hotel, was the Head of the Capability Development Branch. The November 13th event, in the Royal Marine Hotel, 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.