Army armoured vehicles procurement
Deputy Cassells asked that the Defence Forces’ planned armoured vehicle procurement involve Irish industry, especially Timoney Technology in Navan. The Taoiseach said Defence equipment needs were monitored closely and the company was reputable, but the process would be examined as resources allowed.
The programme for Government contains a firm commitment to make significant funding available to equip our Army and, specifically, to provide it with new armoured personnel carriers. In this respect, will the Taoiseach ensure there is an active engagement by the Department of Defence with Irish industry and, at the very least, it sees its capabilities in fulfilling this role at the commencement of the new year? One of the world's leading companies in designing and developing armoured vehicles, Timoney Technology, is based at the IDA Ireland Technology & Business Park in Navan. Two Ministers, Deputies Coveney and Bruton, have visited the company's plant in the past. This company has supplied the Australian, Singaporean, Polish and Turkish armies, as well as the US Marine Corps. Despite the efforts of Enterprise Ireland, at the behest of the Ministers, there has been no active engagement whatsoever with the industry in Ireland, however. When it commences in the new year, there should be a fair and open process and everyone should get a fair crack of the whip, given the world-class leading company we have.
Comment on this
I assure the Deputy that, in so far as the Department of Defence is concerned, this is an issue that is monitored constantly in the context of having proper equipment for our Defence Forces, which carry out such important work on behalf of the State at home and abroad. We discussed the question of resources for the Department of Defence and it was agreed with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. As these issues arise, they will be examined carefully. Hopefully, our Defence Forces personnel will never be sent out with inadequate or inferior equipment.