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Tánaiste Simon Harris will announce plans to accelerate Ireland’s acquisition of defence capabilities such as force protection, artillery, cyber and air defence systems today.
The Irish Mirror understands that Mr Harris, who is also the Defence Minister, is expected to formally sign up to an EU instrument called Security Action for Europe (SAFE).
This was agreed on May 29, 2025 and will provide financial assistance to Member States to support their urgent “public investments” in defence industrial production, aiming to increase production capacity, improve the availability of defence products and address capability gaps.
Sources said that this will allow Ireland to invest in defence in a more prompt fashion.
This will enable the Defence Forces to acquire specific equipment up to two years quicker than under the current procurement rules.
The capability areas that SAFE will cover include ammunition, artillery systems, ground combat capabilities, soldier equipment and critical infrastructure protection, including cyber protection, military mobility, air defence systems, maritime surface and underwater capabilities and drones and anti-drone systems.
Mr Harris is expected to say that he has been “steadfast” in his commitment to investing in the Defence Forces and moving towards Level of Ambition 2 by 2028, before then moving on to Level of Ambition 3, as outlined in the Commission on the Defence Forces.
The Tánaiste is further expected to outline his determination to “provide for the development of a full spectrum of Defence Force Capabilities that will bring Ireland in line with other similar-sized European countries”.
He will add: “I have agreed, therefore, that the Department of Defence should leverage the common procurement opportunities offered under the SAFE (Security Action for Europe) Regulation as much as possible to progress delivery of Ireland’s defence capabilities needs as quickly as possible.”
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