Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 April 2026
531. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the precise date on which Ministerial approval was granted for the procurement of the Falcon 6X strategic reach aircraft; and the date on which the relevant approval decision was signed off within her Department. [24705/26]
View answer532. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the title, date, and status of each cost-benefit analysis, options appraisal, business case, or equivalent evaluative document prepared in relation to the procurement of the Falcon 6X aircraft; and whether she will publish these documents in full or in redacted form. [24706/26]
View answer533. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the number of aircraft types, platforms, or bids assessed during the procurement competition for the Falcon 6X strategic reach aircraft; and whether a formal scoring or evaluation matrix was used to assess competing options. [24707/26]
View answer534. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether a formal operational requirement specification was prepared for the strategic reach aircraft procurement; if so, the date on which it was finalised; the authority by which it was approved; and whether it included specific requirements relating to passenger capacity, range, aeromedical evacuation capability, cargo flexibility, runway performance, or interoperability. [24708/26]
View answer535. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the estimated whole-life cost of the Falcon 6X aircraft over its projected service life, including maintenance, crew, fuel, training, insurance, infrastructure, support contracts, and depreciation; and whether such life-cycle costing formed part of the appraisal process. [24709/26]
View answer536. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether any sensitivity analysis, affordability assessment, or value-for-money assessment was undertaken in respect of the Falcon 6X procurement; and if so, whether account was taken of projected operating costs over a period of at least ten years. [24710/26]
View answer537. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether a formal comparative capability-prioritisation exercise was undertaken to assess the Falcon 6X procurement against other capital requirements including primary radar, maritime surveillance, naval fleet regeneration, personnel retention measures, and subsea monitoring capability; and, if so, whether she will provide the criteria used. [24711/26]
View answer538. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether the High Level Planning and Procurement Group recorded a recommendation, decision note, or minute in relation to the Falcon 6X procurement; and whether any such record will be made available in redacted form. [24712/26]
View answer539. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether external advisers, consultants, or technical specialists were engaged in the appraisal, evaluation, or procurement process for the Falcon 6X aircraft; the identity of any such advisers; the nature of their role; and the cost of such engagement. [24713/26]
View answer540. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether the Falcon 6X procurement was assessed against alternative means of delivering strategic reach, including charter, pooled European arrangements, or lower-cost aircraft options; and whether the Department quantified the comparative cost and operational trade-offs of those alternatives. [24714/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 531 to 540, inclusive, together.
These questions refer to the same subject matter as Parliamentary Questions Nos. 17553/26 17554/26, 17555/26, 17556/26, 17561/26, 17562/26, 17564/26, 17565/26, 17566/26, 20283/26, 20284/ 26, 20285/26, and 20287/26 regarding the recent procurement of the Falcon 6X strategic reach aircraft. The Deputy is also referred to Question No. 17554/ 26 and Question No. 20283/ 26.
My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service is maintained and developed. This is to enable the Defence Forces to carry out the roles assigned by Government. Equipment priorities for the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service are considered in the context of the established capability development and Equipment Development Planning (EDP) processes.
The capital funding of €1.7 billion allocated to Defence in the latest National Development Plan covering the period 2026 to 2030 represents an increase of €600 million on the previous baseline of €1.1 billion. The revised capital allocations will enable targeted progression on key elements of Government commitments within Level of Ambition 2 objectives.
Ongoing planning for the acquisition of military equipment is conducted through the utilisation of the Defence Equipment Development Plan, which is a rolling plan, considered through joint civil-military co-operation, and provides a consolidated, structured basis for ongoing investment in military equipment to develop and maintain necessary capabilities. Capability prioritisation is carried out in line with the updated Strategic Framework for the Transformation of the Defence Forces, the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces (CODF) and the updated Detailed Implementation Plan for the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces.
Defence procurement is governed by the High Level Planning and Procurement Group (HLPPG), comprised of senior civil and military management of the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces. The HLPPG provides a joint civil and military forum for oversight and approval of expenditure in accordance with Public Spending Code requirements. The Public Spending Code requirements governing this procurement included a cost benefit analysis options appraisal. As the value of this acquisition was within the threshold for approval at HLPPG level, there was no requirement for a formal memorandum to be submitted to Government for approval.
In relation to expert advice concerning the recent procurement and successful delivery of the strategic reach aircraft, a Civil-Military Project Team comprising Officials from my Department and the Air Corps delivered this project was supported by an external aviation expert Altea, with legal support provided by the Office of the Chief State Solicitor.
Altea provided industry expertise when the project team were articulating the requirements, specifications and award criteria for the tender. Altea were not involved in the evaluation/selection process. Altea were contracted to provide expert advice services following a competitive tender process for such services and were paid €168,948.41.
In 2023/2024 a competitive process was conducted under the procedures as set out in the Defence and Security Directive 81/2009/EC, and in accordance with the requirements of the Public Spending Code. This was a multi-stage competition with four potential bidders identified in the pre-qualification stage, three of whom responded, with a range of aircraft, to a subsequent Invitation to Tender (ITT). Tender documentation was published and remains available to view on the European e-Tenders website.[]
OGP (Office of Government Procurement) tender templates were utilised in the course of the competition and included a detailed award criteria/ score weighting, set out in a tabular format. The responses were assessed by the Evaluation Board in accordance with the compliance and selection criteria set out in the documentation.
The Final Business Case for the project was presented to the HLPPG for consideration on 11th December 2024. HLPPG approval was thereafter given to award a contract to Dassault Aviation S.A. for the purchase one Falcon 6X aircraft. Minutes of HLPPG meetings are not published. The Final Business Case has been subject to a Freedom of Information request and is available in the public arena online.
The award of the contract followed a robust analysis of the options that met the identified capability requirement, as specified by the Public Spending Code. This analysis considered operational life-cycle requirements.
Information around operational costs concerning the operation of the strategic reach aircraft is publicly available on the Department's website, where it is updated on a monthly basis. www.gov.ie/en/organisation-information/e8132-routinely-published-information/#ministerial-air-transport-service-mats.
I am satisfied that the new aircraft provides the independent and flexible strategic reach air transport service which is an increasingly essential requirement to assist the Government in meeting its national and international obligations.
