The Irish Defence and Security Association (IDSA) was established in 2021 with a mission “to ensure Ireland develops appropriate, leading edge and trusted defence and security capabilities in the land, sea, air, space and cyber domains, in order to protect our society, create jobs, drive research and enhance Ireland’s economic growth”.
National Defence Industry Associations’ (NDIA's) are the norm in many EU Member States, providing support to industry operating in defence markets in a number of ways, by creating networks, disseminating information and assisting contractors to find suitable sub-contractors. They are important for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and in that context the IDSA plays a role in enhancing awareness between Irish industry and my Department through periodic engagement.
Dates of meetings where officials from my Department have met with the IDSA over the past three years, and the relevant attendees are listed below.
|
Date
|
Attendees
|
|
2022
|
|
|
18th January 2022
|
Head of RTI Unit.
|
|
17th May 2022
|
Head of RTI Unit.
|
|
20th May 2022
|
Head of International Security and Defence Policy Division.
|
|
12th July 2022
|
Head of RTI Unit.
|
|
23rd November 2022
|
Head and Deputy Head of RTI Unit.
|
|
2023
|
|
|
15th June 2023
|
Head and Deputy Head of RTI Unit.
|
|
21st September 2023
|
Head of RTI Unit.
|
|
4th October 2023
|
Minister and Head of International Security and Defence Policy Division.
|
|
29th November 2023
|
Head of Strategic Change and Capability Development Division.
|
|
2024
|
|
|
2nd October 2024
|
Head of Strategic Change and Capability Development Division.
|
|
12th December 2024
|
Head of Strategic Change and Capability Development Division and Head of EU/Industry Engagement Branch
|
In addition to the meetings listed above, officials from my Department participated in two events organised by the IDSA on 12th June and 13th November 2024. Department Officials that attended the 12th June event were the Head of the Capability Development Branch and the November 13th event was attended by the Head of the Strategic Change and Capability Development Division and the Head of EU/Industry Engagement Branch.
The IDSA have also participated in the two Defence networking and information events organised by my Department, on the 6th October 2022 in the Aviva Stadium Dublin and the 1st November 2023 in the Aishling Hotel Dublin. On the margins of the 6th October event, then Defence Minister Coveney and Secretary General McCrum had a very brief informal introduction to the IDSA.
