Departmental Policies
Seanad Éireann — 2026-01-21
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Timmy Dooley (FF), Clare

The Senator has rightly identified the positive that can come from this. The Minister outlined previously that her priority is to ensure that the operational capability of the Defence Forces is maintained and developed. This will enable the Defence Forces to carry out its roles as assigned by Government. In addition, the Government is going to provide for the development of a full spectrum of defence capabilities that will bring Ireland in line with similar sized European countries, as the Senator has identified.
Over the coming years, substantial expenditure will be directed towards infrastructure development, capability enhancement and technological innovation. While these investments will enhance Defence Forces capabilities, they will also have the potential to unlock opportunities for Irish industry and create pathways for SMEs operating in the dual use area to grow. As the Senator is aware, Ireland has a strong and highly innovative SME base, no more so than in light engineering, which is very much part of the local economy in the Senator's county, Tipperary, with many firms active in advance technologies relevant to defence and security.
The continued structured engagement with these enterprises will broaden co-operation, support innovation and strengthen the domestic contribution to Ireland's defence capabilities. By fostering that collaboration with the Defences Forces, industry and our European partners, the State can ensure that the increased investment in defence delivers lasting benefits, both in terms of operational readiness and, importantly, as the Senator keeps emphasising, the wider economic resilience of those communities.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-01-21/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:31+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-01-21