Tánaiste and Minister for Defence Micheál Martin has directed that no Israeli companies are to be awarded defence or military contracts. Photograph: Brian Lawless/PA Wire
The decision to effectively blacklist Israeli defence contractors and suppliers from winning public contracts was made in the wake of the International Court of Justice ruling in a non-binding opinion, that Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories were in breach of international law.
As a result a direction had been issued that would restrict Israeli companies from winning contracts to supply the Defence Forces with equipment in future. “We will not be procuring military equipment, or defence equipment, contracts,” Mr Martin said. “In our view, looking at the ICJ’s advisory opinion, that is one area where I have given clear instruction to my officials on,” he said.
It recently sought bidders for a contract to supply 14 drones to the Irish Army, which military sources previously suggested Israeli arms companies would be well placed to win.bidding for the contract. Defence officials said that, despite Government criticism, “there has been no change of policy regarding Defence Forces use of Israeli-made military equipment”.