Senior Department of Defence officials discussed establishing quarterly meetings with arms industry lobbyists – with internal records showing talks about “effective communications” between both parties ahead of an EU defence policy paper.
Minutes from the meeting also show the Irish Defence and Security Association (IDSA) asked about the department potentially spreading information on its behalf.
The department’s assistant secretary general and a principal officer met with IDSA in December and agreed they could potentially meet every quarter, according to records released to The Ditch.
IDSA lobbies the government on behalf of international arms manufacturers including Lockheed Martin and Saab. The group claims its mission is "to ensure Ireland develops appropriate, leading edge and air, space and cyber domain in order to protect our society, create jobs, drive research and enhance Ireland’s economic growth”.
The Department of Defence has confirmed an agreement to engage with IDSA on the "understanding" these interactions are kept “confidential” though claimed last month it intends to publish the minutes of all further meetings with the group.
'The potential for the department to disseminate information'
Last month The Ditch reported that IDSA held a secret meeting with Department of Defence officials at a Dún Laoghaire hotel in November – and instructed attendees to maintain secrecy about it.
The following month IDSA's founders and directors – Ben Tonra, Caitríona Heinl and Pat O'Connor – met with Department of Defence assistant secretary general Eamon Murtagh along with a department principal officer.
Records show the lobby group asked about "the potential for the department to disseminate information" on its behalf.
IDSA and the department also discussed how the two groups could ensure “effective communications” given upcoming events and publications such as the European Defence Agency’s agency annual conference and an EU defence whitepaper. The paper is due to be published in mid-March.
The Department of Defence has previously facilitated meeting between the IDSA and EDA but refuses to release the full details of who attended.
The Trinity Point meeting also included discussions about the EU’s Defence Technological and Industrial Base.
The Ditch has asked the Department of Defence what kind of information it is considering disseminating on IDSA's behalf.
