Alan Kelly
Question:538. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice the number of companies that applied for the contract for the new aircraft and helicopters for the Garda air support unit. [24886/24]
View answerTuesday, 11 June 2024
Questions (538)
Written answers
As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business under Section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), which includes the procurement of equipment for the service.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that the tenders for the procurement of both rotary wing aircraft (helicopters) and fixed wing aircraft have been completed pursuant to the derogation set out in Regulation 9(b) of the European Union (Award of Contracts relating to Defence and Security) Regulation 2012 (S.I. 62 of 2012) which transposed Directive 2009/81/EC into Irish law.
The derogation under Regulation 9(b) relates to " a contract for the purposes of intelligence activities."
I can confirm that tenderers were invited to submit a tender for the provision of rotary wing aircraft (helicopters) and tenderers were invited to submit a tender for the provision of fixed wing aircraft by An Garda Síochána. Due to the nature of the derogation above, the Deputy will appreciate that I cannot comment on specifics related to security matters.