Foreign Policy

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 September 2022

Thursday, 8 September 2022

Questions (797)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

797. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Defence if his attention has been drawn to a submarine which surfaced within sight of the south Donegal coast in the past week; the specific foreign state that owned the submarine; if his attention was drawn to the fact that submarine training or other operations were going to take place so close to the Donegal coast; if the submarine had nuclear weapons onboard; the measures that have been taken to ensure that these operations will not take place in the future; and if he will outline the consequences of this for Ireland’s neutrality. [43931/22]

Written answers

Minister for Defence

The Naval Service and Air Corps carry out ongoing Maritime Defence and Security Operations within Irish territorial waters and the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone.  These operations did not observe any submarine activity off the Donegal coast in recent weeks.  Consequently, this particular reported sighting cannot be substantiated.

International law, in particular the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) allows for all vessels, to transit through another state’s territorial waters when conducting innocent passage (as defined by Article 19 of UNCLOS).  For submarines, innocent passage must be conducted on the surface, with the flag of nationality on display (Article 20 UNCLOS).  Furthermore, naval vessels are permitted to conduct exercises outside of territorial waters in a country’s Exclusive Economic Zone so long as this does not unduly interfere with the Coastal State.  Any vessels transiting Irish waters must do so in compliance with international law and may be subject to sighting and observation by the Naval Service and Air Corps without their innocent passage being infringed. 

Infringement of these obligations under international law would be a serious matter and would be addressed by the Government accordingly.