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. 

Read more: Israeli arms companies allowed to bid for Irish drones contract