Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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343. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence to review correspondence (details supplied); if he will provide an update on the status of the scheme; if there are any plans to return the payment to its original status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23708/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Conciliation and Arbitration (C&A) scheme for members of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) provides a formal mechanism for the PDF representative associations, i.e. RACO and PDFORRA, to engage with the Official side. Having regard to commitments under national public service pay agreements, the representative associations can make representations in relation to the pay and conditions of their members.

The Conciliation & Arbitration (C&A) Scheme, for members of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) which is independently chaired, consists of members of the two PDF Representative Associations, namely RACO and PDFORRA, as well as the “Official Side”. The Official Side comprises of members of the Department of Defence (Civil and Military) and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. This body is known as “Council”.

At present, there is a claim before Council in respect of the Reserve Defence Force Allowance. Therefore, as per the agreed terms of reference of the C&A Scheme it would be inappropriate for me to make any comment on claims that remain under consideration by parties under this scheme.

Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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347. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if it is the policy of the State to purchase military equipment from other militarily neutral states; if this policy has been revised in recent years; and his views on the state's procedures and priorities in acquiring foreign military equipment. [23734/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service is maintained and developed. This is to enable the Defence Forces to carry out the roles assigned by Government. The acquisition, modernisation and upgrade of Defence Forces equipment are considered in the context of the established capability development and Equipment Development Planning (EDP) processes.

This acquisition of military equipment through the utilisation of the Defence Equipment Development Plan is considered through joint civil-military co-operation, and provides a consolidated, structured basis for ongoing investment in military equipment to develop and maintain necessary capabilities.

The rolling Equipment Development Plan encompasses a programme of sustained equipment procurement/acquisition across the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service as identified and prioritised in the Strategic Framework and the Detailed Implementation Plan for the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces, building on the work done under the White Paper on Defence. This is part of the ambitious programme of work to move to Level of Ambition 2 ( LOA2) by 2028, and will ensure that the Defence Forces have the major equipment platforms, ancillary equipment and force protection equipment required to carry out their important roles both at home and overseas.

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 competitions 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.

Since the ICJ advisory opinion of 19 July 2024, the Department has included provisions in its tender documentation regarding the right to reject offers from third countries on defence and security grounds, in line with the Commission guidance on the procurement of defensive equipment under Directive 2009/18/EU.