Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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235. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the engagement his Department has had with the European Commission regarding the so-called 'crisis mechanism' within the European Defence Industrial Programme which would allow basic protections within the Working Time Directive to be suspended for arms companies, allowing them to override core workers' rights provisions of EU law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63603/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The first European Defence Industrial Strategy (EDIS) was published in March 2024. EDIS provides a long-term strategy to address deficiencies in EU defence readiness and applies lessons learnt from previous EU initiatives such the Act in Support of Ammunition Production (ASAP) and the European Defence Industry Reinforcement through common Procurement Act (EDIRPA). EDIS is supported by a financial arm, the European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP) which makes available €1.5 billion in EU funding for the period 2025-2027 and comprises a framework of measures to ensure the timely availability and supply of defence products.

EDIP was agreed by the Council and the European Parliament on 16 October 2025 following extensive negotiations by Member States in the Defence Industry Working Party, of which Ireland is a member. In the absence of a traditional defence industry, there has been no necessity for bilateral engagements between Ireland and the European Commission concerning the ‘crisis-mechanism’ and as such no bilateral meetings have taken place.