Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements
Dail Éireann — 2026-06-16
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Peadar Tóibín (AON), Meath West

It has been reported that Ireland has signed a memorandum of understanding, MOU, with the French Government around the purchase of military hardware and the training of Irish soldiers by the French army. I understand this may include the location of French soldiers and military hardware in Ireland. I understand it is to aid interoperability between the two armies. There are major concerns the MOU will limit future procurement competition and therefore push up prices, and there are also concerns as to whether this MOU seeks to provide French military cover to Ireland. We have already tied ourselves into British military cover in our skies and seas. Many in Europe see the west coast of Ireland as a weakness in military defence-----

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-06-16/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-27T06:54:50+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-06-16