Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 March 2022
417. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 396 of 22 February 2022, the naval exercises by foreign navies he was referring to and the dates and duration of all such exercises in the past 20 years. [11347/22]
View answerAs I have said, under international law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), naval exercises are recognised as being part of the freedom of the high seas. These exercises taking place in the Irish EEZ or the passage of naval vessels of other States through the Irish EEZ is not in any way an infringement of our national territory. States are not obliged, in most cases, to inform the coastal authorities of any proposed naval exercises. My attention has been drawn to some naval exercises that have taken place in Ireland’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
As I advised in my capacity as Minister for Defence when replying to the Deputy on the 15th of February, I will not be disclosing specific details that are held by the Naval Service in relation to activities of foreign militaries.
