Written Answers Nos. 114-121
114. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the reason Ireland has yet to withdraw from the Energy Charter Treaty, despite the European Union move to do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73243/25]
View answerIreland has begun the process of formal withdrawal from the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) in a coordinated manner alongside other EU Member States, following negotiations as part of a bloc, led by the EU Commission.
Each Member State has different rules regarding treaties, both the joining and exiting of them. In Ireland’s case, a decision to withdraw from an international treaty, such as the Energy Charter Treaty, is a matter of executive power under Article 29 of the Irish Constitution and will require a Government Decision.
Given her formal role in international treaties, a Memorandum for Government regarding the formal exit from the Treaty will be brought by my colleague the Minister for Foreign Affairs and this decision will formally end Ireland’s membership. My officials are working with the Department of Foreign Affairs to expedite this process.
The Government is committed to exiting the ECT as soon as is practicable and the relevant Memorandum is expected to be brought to Government in the near future.
Ireland is still a member of the Treaty and will remain so until we officially leave. The modernised treaty provides for less exposure to investor claims than the original treaty, and the modernised Treaty is available to view on the ECT website. However, the Government's position remains that Ireland will exit the Treaty.
115. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the details of cases taken against Ireland under the ISDS under the Energy Charter Treaty since our accession, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73244/25]
View answerFour notices of dispute have been received under Article 26 of the Energy Charter Treaty. No arbitration has commenced with respect to any of these notices of dispute. However, given the threat of arbitration, it would not be appropriate for me to provide any further details at this time.
116. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Defence the contracted delivery date for the recently announced €19 million counter-unmanned aerial system (C-UAS) capability; whether a supplier has been selected; and whether the system is contractually committed to be operational before Ireland assumes the EU Presidency in 2026. [72597/25]
View answer117. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Defence when and where Defence Forces personnel will be trained to operate the new counter-UAS capability; the number of personnel that will be trained; and whether this training will be completed ahead of the EU Presidency. [72598/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 116 and 117 together.
With Ireland assuming the Presidency of the EU from July 2026, there is an urgent operational requirement to prioritise delivery of Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) capabilities for use by the Defence Forces.
Subject to negotiation and finalisation of a contract, the required capabilities are to be procured in an accelerated manner with planned delivery, and training, being carried out during the first half of 2026.
Pending finalisation of contract negotiations, and also for operational security reasons, it would be inappropriate to make any further comment on this matter, at this time.
118. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Defence to outline the current counter-drone capability within the Defence Forces; and whether additional support from partner states is expected to be required for major events in 2026. [72599/25]
View answerI believe the Deputy is referencing planning and security arrangements for the forthcoming Presidency next year. Preparations for same are now intensifying across Government. It is important to note that National Security rests primarily with the Department of Justice and An Garda Síochána. The Defence Forces’ role is to provide support to An Garda Síochána where specific capabilities are required under the Aid to the Civil Power (ATCP) framework.
An Garda Síochána is central to the security planning and preparation. It has established a dedicated European Union Presidency co-ordination office to oversee all aspects of operational planning, logistics and inter-agency engagement. Support during the Presidency may include security-related and logistical assistance from across the Defence Forces — the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps — in response to requirements identified by An Garda Síochána. Pending the finalisation of any requests for assistance, I am not in a position to comment further at this juncture.
In relation to counter drone capability, as announced earlier this week I have brought forward the counter drone elements of the Military Radar procurement, which will be procured and in place next year before the EU Presidency.
119. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Defence whether an open tender was conducted for the procurement of four H145M helicopters announced in January 2025; and if not, the justification for the procurement method used. [72600/25]
View answerMy priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Defence Forces is maintained and developed. This is to enable the Defence Forces to carry out the roles assigned by Government.
In December 2024, a contract for the delivery of four Airbus H145M helicopters was awarded to Airbus Helicopters UK Ltd. with the aircraft being manufactured in Germany. This investment of €91.7 million ex VAT will provide a modern light-utility helicopter capability for the Air Corps. They will replace the present ageing fleet of two EC-135s, which have reached the end of their useful service life. Production of the helicopters is progressing well, and it is anticipated that delivery of the helicopters will begin on a phased basis in Q1 2027.
The Airbus H145Ms represent a modernisation and expansion of light-utility helicopter capability for the Air Corps over the present EC-135s, which have reached the end of their useful service life.
Full details of the contract award rationale are published and are available on the European Tenders Electronic Platform under contract award notice number 47059 - 2025. The legal justification for the contract award was underpinned by legal advice from the Office of the Attorney General and is in compliance with the provisions of the Defence and Security Directive 2009/81/EC.
120. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Defence to confirm the date the sonar capability contract was signed; and whether this aligns with earlier public announcements regarding the project. [72601/25]
View answerAs part of the National Development Plan for the Defence Forces, which I announced last week, sonar capability towed sonar capability was provided for.
This towed sonar capability is the first of its kind in Ireland, will be used for monitoring and surveillance in the subsea domain, thus significantly enhancing maritime security. Final approval was granted in May 2025 and a contract was agreed and signed on the 29 May 2025.
121. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Defence for an update on the primary radar project, including the original planned delivery timeline and the current expected completion date. [72602/25]
View answerOne of my key priorities as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capacity of the Defence Forces is maintained and developed in line with the Government’s decision to move to Level of Ambition 2 (LOA2), as defined by the Commission on the Defence Forces (CODF).
The CODF recommended the development of a primary radar capability to ensure that Ireland can maintain a complete ‘Recognised Air Picture’, and that this should be an immediate and top priority.
There are three elements to the Military Radar Programme: Land based Long Range Primary Radar; Ground Based Air Defence (GBAD) systems, to include a Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) capability; and Maritime (ship-borne) Radar.
This programme of work is ongoing and good progress has been made.
When fully delivered, the Recognised Air Picture will incorporate this suite of military radar systems; which will have the capability to detect all aircraft traversing our airspace including any that may be operating with their transponders turned off.
My Department has engaged with a number of countries, including all EU Member States, to ascertain their interest in supporting Ireland to deliver this capability. Based on the responses received, my officials commenced bi-lateral discussions with a small number of countries earlier this year, with a view to assessing options for delivery.
This phase of the process recently concluded and the Preliminary Business Case for the Military Radar Programme has now been approved. This concluded that a Government-level approach with one country was the preferred option and, in line with this approach, my Department will now commence detailed negotiations with France on a potential agreement for the delivery of all capability requirements under the Programme.
Full delivery of the Programme will be complex; but has been prioritised with a target date of 2028 identified in the CODF Detailed Implementation Plan. That being said, elements of this capability will be rolled out in phases, starting in 2026, towards full delivery by the end of 2028.
