Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 July 2021
189. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Defence the maritime territories and boundaries the State is responsible for in terms of national defence and security; the air, surface and subsurface areas of responsibility within this context; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38713/21]
View answerAn Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is a concept adopted at the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (1982), whereby a coastal State assumes jurisdiction over the exploration and exploitation of marine resources in its adjacent section of the continental shelf, taken to be a band extending 200 miles from the shore. The current Irish Exclusive Economic Zone, (EEZ) or Exclusive Fishery Limits, (EFL) extends to 200 miles offshore and covers an area of 132,000 nautical square miles which is equivalent to an area of 175,000 square land miles. This represents 16% of EU waters. Questions related to the specific rights and responsibilities associated with Ireland's EEZ should be directed to my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
From a Defence Organisation perspective, the Naval Service and the Air Corps currently patrol the entire 200 mile limit in respect of sea fisheries protection and periodically patrol beyond these limits to protect specific fisheries. These patrols are carried out on a regular and frequent basis and are directed to all areas of Irish waters as necessary including coastal areas. Naval Service vessels are multi-tasked in that they undertake general surveillance security and other duties while conducting their primary day-to-day tasking of providing a fishery protection service in accordance with the State’s obligations as a member of the European Union. However, as the need arises, Naval Service vessels are deployed to other duties such as aid to the civil power, search and rescue or recovery and drug interdiction operations.
Naval Service patrols are complemented by assistance provided by the Air Corps. The Air Corps Maritime Squadron carries out aerial surveillance of our EEZ using the two CASA maritime patrol aircraft.
In a military context, under international law other State's naval ships or vessels are within their rights to carry out a training exercise in Ireland's EEZ or to traverse the Irish EEZ. This is not in any way an infringement of our national territory. In this context it is not unusual for naval ships or vessels of other States to carry out training exercises within Ireland's EEZ or to passage through this area. This would normally involve prior notification to Irish Authorities where an exercise was taking place close to our Territorial Waters but this is not a requirement. Should another State's naval ship or vessels seek to enter inside Ireland's Territorial Waters, inside the 12NM, then diplomatic clearance must be requested via the Department of Foreign Affairs.
