Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 June 2023
240. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of military ships registered to Russia, the United States and China whose presence has been notified to the relevant Irish authorities, or detected by same, in the Irish EEZ in each year since 2008, in tabular form. [27997/23]
View answerIt is important to note that Foreign military ships operating in the Irish EEZ are operating on the high seas and exercise freedom of navigation under international law. There is no requirement for foreign military ships to identify themselves to any Irish Authority whilst in the Irish EEZ.
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) allows for all vessels, including military vessels, to transit through the territorial waters of coastal states when conducting innocent passage (as defined by art. 19 of UNCLOS). 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.
As the Deputy will appreciate, it would not be appropriate to comment on specific operational matters, however enhanced maritime patrolling of the Irish Sea in the vicinity of priority offshore energy infrastructure commenced in 2022 and remains ongoing. This enhanced patrolling is being conducted by a mixture of air and naval platforms.
