350. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the contingency planning in place to safeguard Ireland’s energy security in the event of a sustained disruption to global oil and liquefied natural gas supply routes, including those transiting key maritime chokepoints; to detail the State’s current strategic fuel reserve capacity, expressed in days of consumption for oil and gas; and …
531. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the precise date on which Ministerial approval was granted for the procurement of the Falcon 6X strategic reach aircraft; and the date on which the relevant approval decision was signed off within her Department. [24705/26]
532. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the title, date, and status of each cost-benefit analysis, options appraisal, business case, or equivalent evaluative document prepared in relation to the procurement of the Falcon 6X aircraft; and whether she will publish these documents in full or in redacted form. [24706/26]
533. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the number of aircraft types, platforms, or bids assessed during the procurement competition for the Falcon 6X strategic reach aircraft; and whether a formal scoring or evaluation matrix was used to assess competing options. [24707/26]
534. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether a formal operational requirement specification was prepared for the strategic reach aircraft procurement; if so, the date on which it was finalised; the authority by which it was approved; and whether it included specific requirements relating to passenger capacity, range, aeromedical evacuation capability, cargo flexibility, runway performance, or intero…
535. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the estimated whole-life cost of the Falcon 6X aircraft over its projected service life, including maintenance, crew, fuel, training, insurance, infrastructure, support contracts, and depreciation; and whether such life-cycle costing formed part of the appraisal process. [24709/26]
536. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether any sensitivity analysis, affordability assessment, or value-for-money assessment was undertaken in respect of the Falcon 6X procurement; and if so, whether account was taken of projected operating costs over a period of at least ten years. [24710/26]
537. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether a formal comparative capability-prioritisation exercise was undertaken to assess the Falcon 6X procurement against other capital requirements including primary radar, maritime surveillance, naval fleet regeneration, personnel retention measures, and subsea monitoring capability; and, if so, whether she will provide the criteria used. [24711/26]
538. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether the High Level Planning and Procurement Group recorded a recommendation, decision note, or minute in relation to the Falcon 6X procurement; and whether any such record will be made available in redacted form. [24712/26]
539. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether external advisers, consultants, or technical specialists were engaged in the appraisal, evaluation, or procurement process for the Falcon 6X aircraft; the identity of any such advisers; the nature of their role; and the cost of such engagement. [24713/26]
540. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether the Falcon 6X procurement was assessed against alternative means of delivering strategic reach, including charter, pooled European arrangements, or lower-cost aircraft options; and whether the Department quantified the comparative cost and operational trade-offs of those alternatives. [24714/26]
582. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the number of external contractors engaged by her Department in each of the years 2022 to 2025; the total value of payments made to each contractor in each year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26787/26]
583. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the procurement method used for each contract with external contractors in the years 2022 to 2025, including the number of contracts awarded following open tender, restricted tender, framework call-off, and direct award; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26788/26]
584. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the extent to which contracts with external contractors in the years 2022 to 2025 exceeded national or EU procurement thresholds requiring competitive tendering; and if she will provide a breakdown by year and value band. [26789/26]
585. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the number and total value of contracts awarded through the Office of Government Procurement frameworks in each of the years 2022 to 2025; and the policy basis for using such frameworks instead of standalone tender processes. [26790/26]
586. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the breakdown of expenditure on external contractors in each of the years 2022 to 2025 by category of service, including but not limited to consultancy, legal services, communications, policy development, and research, in tabular form. [26791/26]
587. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the projects, programmes, or policy initiatives to which external contractor expenditure related to in each of the years 2022 to 2025; the cost attributable to each project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26792/26]
588. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether his Department conducted any assessment comparing the cost of using external contractors with the cost of delivering the same work internally; and if so, the findings of such assessments. [26794/26]
589. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the value-for-money or post-project evaluation mechanisms applied to expenditure on external contractors in the years 2022 to 2025; whether any formal evaluations were completed; and if he will provide details. [26795/26]
590. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence whether any internal audit, external audit, or Comptroller and Auditor General review has examined expenditure on external contractors by her Department in the years 2022 to 2025; and if so, the findings and dates of such reviews. [26796/26]
591. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the number of external contractors engaged by his Department in each of the years 2022 to 2025; the total value of payments made to each contractor in each year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26799/26]
592. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the extent to which contracts with external contractors in the years 2022 to 2025 exceeded national or EU procurement thresholds requiring competitive tendering; and if he will provide a breakdown by year and value band. [26801/26]
593. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the breakdown of expenditure on external contractors in each of the years 2022 to 2025 by category of service, including but not limited to consultancy, legal services, communications, policy development, and research; and if he will provide a detailed table. [26803/26]
594. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 42 of 4 March 2025, the reasons for the increase in expenditure on external contractors from €8,764 in 2022 to €318,874 in 2024; and the policy decisions that drove this increase. [26805/26]
595. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Defence the approval process required within his Department before engaging external contractors, including the grade level at which approval is granted and any expenditure thresholds that trigger additional oversight. [26811/26]