War on Gaza: Israeli arms companies allowed to bid for Irish drones contract

Ireland will allow Israeli arms companies to sell weapons to the country amid concerns by Irish lawmakers over weapons sales from Israel because of the war in Gaza. 

Tender documents obtained by the Irish Times show that the Irish Defence Forces plan to obtain 14 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) worth €600,000 ($670,000) over 12 months. 

The documents noted the Defence Engineer Corps needed the UAVs for "surveillance, survey, inspection and search and rescue by day and night” as well as classified tasks. 

But earlier this year, Ireland's minister for defence, Micheal Martin, expressed "reservations" in the Irish parliament over the procurement of military equipment from Israel. 

Speaking within the context of Israel's invasion of Gaza, Martin expressed reservations over potential weapons sales from Israel but acknowledged that Ireland would not use Israeli arms to break international law. 

Currently, Ireland's Defence Forces use Israeli-made military equipment, including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), advanced targeting equipment, ground radar systems, and communication systems. 

Military sources told the Irish Times that the tendering process is at an early stage but that Israeli arms companies would be well-placed to secure the contract. 

Over the last decade, Dublin has acquired more than €8.5m ($9.5m) of military equipment from Israeli arms companies, with at least €4.5m ($5m) from Aeronautics Defence Industries, a military drone manufacturer owned by the Israeli government through its parent company, Rafael Advanced Defence Systems. 

Currently, Ireland pays Aeronautics Defence Industries €295,000 ($330,000) a year to support and maintain the defence forces drones. 

Campaigners who oppose Ireland's arms purchases from Israel have noted that drones from Aeronautics Defence Industries have played a central role in Israel's campaign in Gaza. 

Ireland has been a vocal critic of Israel's war in Gaza, which has killed approximately 40,000 Palestinians. 

Alongside Spain and Norway, Ireland recognised Palestinian statehood in May. 

But, critics called for the government to go further and enact the Occupied Territories Bill which would ban all goods and services produced in illegal Israeli settlements. 

Campaigners have also called for an end to the export of Irish-made dual-use products, which have both military and civilian uses, to Israel.