Simon Harris was lobbied by arms industry, FoI records show

Records released under Freedom of Information show the Irish Defence and Security Association wrote a 'letter of introduction' to Tánaiste and defence minister Simon Harris. File picture: Brian Lawless/PA

A lobby group for some of the world’s largest arms companies pushed Simon Harris to establish an arms industry strategy.

Records released under Freedom of Information show that the Irish Defence and Security Association (IDSA) wrote to Department of Defence assistant secretary general Eamonn Murtagh seeking to schedule a “quarterly meeting” in late March. 

The following week, the group’s directors, Catriona Heinl and Pat O’Connor, wrote “a letter of introduction” to Mr Harris, who had been appointed defence minister in January.

Lobbying register disclosures show a meeting was held on April 10 at the Department of Defence with the directors of the association to “represent IDSA member priorities such as certainty surrounding industrial participation policy and industry strategy aspects”.

In the letter, the group said it had a number of priorities which it says arose in light of both Irish and European commitments to increase military spending.

The introductory letter says the step-up in national and European defence expenditures, “will prompt the call for local industrial involvement” and that it “is critical to shape these foundations at this stage”.

“IDSA has strongly recommended the need to develop the nation’s defence industry strategy and thereby determine a defined industrial participation policy in defence procurement [in compliance with national/EU regulation].”

IDSA members include Lockheed Martin

The lobby group, whose members include the world’s largest arms manufacturer Lockheed Martin, told the department it “can provide essential input, bringing national and European industry experience to relevant consultations”.

The letter to Mr Harris goes on to say that “there is an urgent need for active coordination with relevant ministries/agencies responsible for trade and the economy” and the industry and adds that “the Government’s expected economic benefit to Ireland of these increased national defence spend ambitions does not seem to have been yet provided for”.

In March, EU 27 leaders signed off on a move to loosen budget restrictions so that willing EU countries can increase their military spending. They also urged the European Commission to explore new ways “to facilitate significant defence spending at national level in all member states”.

The IDSA letter says “clarity will be needed on how Ireland will position itself in relation to EU Defence Industrial Strategy where the implications of an evolving but fast moving EU industrial focus for Ireland does not yet seem to be determined”.

Harris proposed €3bn military budget

Mr Harris told the 'Irish Examiner' in February that, “over time”, Ireland should raise military spending to €3bn a year, the highest level set out by the Commission on the Defence Forces 2022 report. 

That envisages 12 naval vessels, a squadron of combat aircraft, and the army ranger wing having “an organic self-sustainment capability which would include dedicated combat helicopter assets”.

Mr Harris said then: “The programme for government talks about reaching what they call level of ambition two by 2028 and that basically gets to the €1.5bn.

“But I think we are going to have to go further than that in time. And the programme for Government does talk about moving towards level of ambition three.

What I’m saying to the Irish people is €1.5bn should be seen as the floor and certainly not the ceiling in terms of where defence expenditure needs to get to.