People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett has raised concerns about proposed changes to legislation, which he says could reduce government oversight of military-related activities involving state agencies.
The Dún Laoghaire TD has tabled amendments to the government’s Industrial Development (Amendment) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2026, which is currently progressing through the Oireachtas.
At the centre of the dispute is a proposal to remove a section of the Science and Technology Act 1987 requiring State agencies to obtain Government approval before engaging in or promoting activities considered to be of “primarily military relevance”.
The proposed change was included in amendments to the Bill after pre-legislative scrutiny had been completed by the Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment.
Deputy Boyd Barrett said he intends to force a vote on his amendment when the committee resumes consideration of the legislation on July 1.
Speaking during committee proceedings last Wednesday (10th), he described the proposed change as “alarming” and argued that a Bill focused on enterprise and industry should not be used to alter oversight arrangements relating to military-linked activities.
He also expressed concerns that reducing approval requirements could have implications for State engagement with companies involved in the production of military or dual-use technologies.
“The government added a provision to its own legislation, after the completion of pre-legislative scrutiny, to remove the requirement for state agencies to have government approval to engage in or promote any activity of a primarily military relevance,” Boyd Barrett said.
He further argued that the move raised wider questions about Irish neutrality and oversight of state-supported industrial activity.
The government has said the Bill is intended to support industrial development and enterprise policy, although debate continues over the proposed amendments relating to military-relevant activities.
The legislation remains under consideration by the Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment.