Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 November 2023
36. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if any concerns have been highlighted to his Department in relation to the ongoing Naval Service monitoring of submarine communication cables in Irish waters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50882/23]
View answer38. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if plans are in place to protect undersea cables running through Irish waters against potential sabotage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50203/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 36 and 38 together.
As the Deputy will be aware, we like many other countries in Europe have witnessed a fundamental change in our security environment in the last year with an increased focus on maritime security and the protection of subsea cables. The security of Ireland’s sub-sea infrastructure is a matter of utmost importance for the Government.
Following the attacks on Nordstream 1 and 2 in October 2022, my colleague Mr. Eamonn Ryan TD, Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications sought support from my Department in relation to additional measures that could be put in place to ensure that critical off-shore infrastructure including data cables are protected. As a result of which enhanced patrolling of the Irish Sea in the vicinity of priority offshore infrastructure is taking place by a mixture of air and naval platforms.
For the Deputy’s awareness the Naval Service, as the State's principal sea-going agency, is tasked with a variety of defence and other roles. While the main daily tasking of the Naval Service is to provide a fishery protection service in accordance with our obligations as a member of the EU, it also carries out a number of other non-fishery related tasks in tandem with maritime surveillance.
In addition, the Air Corps Maritime Patrol Squadron also supports this role providing aerial assistance to the Naval Service in patrolling the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) using the two CASA CN 235 maritime patrol aircraft soon to be replace by the two new C295 maritime patrol aircraft equipped with state-of-the-art surveillance and communication equipment.
The Defence Forces routinely monitor foreign vessels with both Naval Service assets and Air Corps maritime patrol aircraft, as well as remote monitoring on a 24/7 basis from the Naval Operations Command Centre in Haulbowline. It should be noted that foreign 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.
The Deputy can be assured that my officials will continue to engage as and when required with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications in relation to this matter.
