Disclosure of Army equipment purchases
Keating challenged the refusal to provide information on public spending and raised reports of Army surface-to-air missiles said to be unsuitable for Irish conditions. Noonan said the information was not then available and that a public announcement would follow a decision; he offered to investigate specific requests, while Keating sought the information already requested about completed purchases.
The vast majority of us in this House are just as concerned about national security as the Minister is but does he consider it reasonable that we should not be able to ask questions on how public expenditure has been allocated or used in this case? Is the Minister able to comment on reports which have appeared in the specialised international media which stated that surface-to-air missiles have been purchased by the Army and that these are not appropriate for the conditions which prevail in this country? Does the Minister think it reasonable that we should not be able to ask questions on when such contracts were last placed? How does that endanger national security? What objective criteria are used in making such choices? People have a right to know but I put it to the Minister that, without endangering national security, he can do better than take refuge behind the bland answers he has given.
Comment on this
(Limerick West): The information when it becomes available will be made public but at present I am not in a position to give the information which has been requested by the Deputy.
Comment on this
If I have interpreted the Minister correctly I take it that what he is saying to me is that he will obtain the answers to the questions which I raised a few minutes ago and he will let me have the information.
Comment on this
(Limerick West): When a decision has been made with regard to the purchase of the equipment there will be a public announcement.
Comment on this
(Limerick West): If the Deputy puts down a specific question I will be glad to give him a specific answer.
Comment on this
I do not want to make things difficult for the Minister as he is relatively new in his brief. I do not want to cause him any embarrassment but, in fairness, that question has been put down and all I am asking is whether he would be good enough to agree today to supply me with the information I have requested in this question as soon as possible.
Comment on this
(Limerick West): If the Deputy is prepared to specify the information required and gives me specific instances I will look into the matter for him and I will be as helpful as I possibly can be to him.