Written answers
Tuesday, 29 July 2025
Department of Defence
European Union
Joe Neville (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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322. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence considering Ireland's recent commitment to joining the EU’S SAFE Mechanism for defence procurement, what the Minister will do to ensure the Irish economy and research sector will benefit from this increased spend; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41295/25]
Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The SAFE (Security Action for Europe) instrument, which entered into force on 29 May 2025, is an EU instrument designed to provide financial assistance to Member States and support their urgent public investments in defence industrial production, aiming to increase production capacity, improve the availability of defence products, and address capability gaps, particularly by engaging in joint acquisitions, where appropriate. SAFE will provide Member States with up to €150Bn of loans backed by the EU budget which will help Member States boost their defence capabilities through common procurement.
Opportunities for Ireland's university research sector are better addressed through the European Defence Fund (EDF) rather than a procurement initiative such as SAFE. The EDF provides funding for research and capability development and is specifically designed to foster innovation to address security and defence challenges.
The Department of Defence, through its Research Technology and Innovation (RTI) Unit currently engages with Ireland's university research sector to enable them to access EU funding and also to collaborate with research and industry actors within the EU.
While Ireland does not have a traditional defence industry per se, we do have industry that could have a defence application. It is important for Irish industry to be in a position to take advantage of commercial opportunities that may present themselves within an industrial sector that will grow very significantly. Ireland has sought supports for SMEs within EU initiatives.
Joe Neville (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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323. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence how he plans to ensure that Ireland's defence procurement process will align with the EU’s SAFE mechanism to ensure a fast and efficient procurement process for the Irish Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41296/25]
Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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As Minister for Defence, one of my priorities is to ensure that the Defence Forces’ operational capabilities are maintained and developed to allow them carry out their roles at home and abroad, as assigned by Government.
I particularly welcome the recently announced increase in capital funding allocated to defence in the National Development Plan for the period 2026-2030. The funding of €1.7 billion is an increase of €600 million or 55% on the previous baseline figure of €1.1 billion. This significant increase reflects the government’s commitment to increasing investment in our Defence Forces. It will enable targeted progression on key elements of commitments to attain Level of Ambition 2 as outlined in the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces (CODF).
The proposed Security Action for Europe (SAFE) instrument, which entered into force on 29 May 2025, is an EU instrument designed to provide financial assistance to Member States and support their urgent public investments in defence industrial production, aiming to increase production capacity, improve the availability of defence products, and address capability gaps, particularly by engaging in joint acquisitions where appropriate. SAFE is an EU financial instrument which will provide Member States with up to €150 billion of loans backed by the EU budget. This will help Member States to boost their defence capabilities through common procurement, and I have agreed that the Department of Defence should examine the common procurement opportunities offered under the SAFE Regulation.
No nation acting alone can address all of the current complex and dynamic security challenges affecting global and regional defence and security. In this context, increased collaborative procurement and capability development with partners will be a feature of Irish defence capability planning.
Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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324. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence what he believes the economic benefits to the Irish economy will be by signing up to the EU’s SAFE Mechanism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41388/25]
Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The SAFE (Security Action for Europe) instrument, which entered into force on 29 May 2025, is an EU instrument designed to provide financial assistance to Member States and support their urgent public investments in defence industrial production, aiming to increase production capacity, improve the availability of defence products, and address capability gaps, particularly by engaging in joint acquisitions, where appropriate.
SAFE is an EU financial instrument which will provide Member States with up to €150Bn of loans backed by the EU budget. This will help Member States to boost their defence capabilities through common procurement, and I have agreed that the Department of Defence should examine the common procurement opportunities offered under the SAFE Regulation. Identifying efficiencies in the procurement processes may ultimately deliver an economic benefit to the State and consequently the economy.
While Ireland does not have a traditional defence industry per se, we do have industry that could have a defence application. It is important for Irish industry to be in a position to take advantage of commercial opportunities that present themselves within a sector that will grow very significantly. Ireland has consistently sought supports for SMEs within EU initiatives.
However, as the SAFE initiative is in its early stages of development and EU Member States have yet to submit their plans regarding their utility of the mechanism, the full scale and scope of benefits of the SAFE mechanism to the Irish economy will become clearer in time.
Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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325. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his views on the way in which Ireland's university research sector can benefit as a result of signing up to the EU’s SAFE Mechanism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41389/25]
Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The SAFE (Security Action for Europe) instrument, which entered into force on 29 May 2025, is an EU instrument designed to provide financial assistance to Member States and support their urgent public investments in defence industrial production, aiming to increase production capacity, improve the availability of defence products, and address capability gaps, particularly by engaging in joint acquisitions, where appropriate.
SAFE is an EU financial instrument which will provide Member States with up to €150Bn of loans backed by the EU budget. This will help Member States to boost their defence capabilities through common procurement.
Opportunities for Ireland's university research sector are better addressed through the European Defence Fund (EDF) rather than SAFE. The EDF provides funding for research and capability development and is specifically designed to foster innovation to address security and defence challenges.
However, while SAFE is primarily a procurement initiative, there may be significant indirect benefits that accrue to the university research sector as the initiative evolves.
The Department of Defence, through its Research Technology and Innovation (RTI) Unit currently engages with Ireland's university research sector to enable them to access EU funding and also to collaborate with research and industry actors within the EU.
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