Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 April 2025
242. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the position regarding any research or engagement ongoing between his Department and the owners of undersea cabling and pipelines regarding protection and response in the event of a fault or attack; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18572/25]
View answerMy Department understands that large-volume users of subsea telecoms cables have a policy of using multiple subsea cables, running on different routes, to transmit their data bound for international destinations. This is to ensure route diversity for international connectivity and to avoid an over reliance on any individual cable, therefore delivering a highly resilient and reliable service.
My Department’s 2024 Consultation on International Connectivity for Telecommunications sought to gain a better understanding of the subsea market as a whole, as well as to gain more insight at individual cable system and firm level, with a view to ensuring that Ireland is served by a suitably diverse, resilient and reliable cable system. That consultation received strong feedback from subsea cable owners, operators and developers.
Additionally, in light of threats to EU critical infrastructure arising from geopolitical developments and the subsequent attacks on pipelines in other European jurisdictions, my Department engaged directly with the owners of subsea telcoms cables to obtain up-to-date mapping information such that relevant State entities have access to accurate information on the locations of this infrastructure.
The statutorily independent Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) also plays an important role in this area. As authorised providers of electronic communications networks and services (ECN/ECS), owners/operators of subsea cables are obliged to notify ComReg of a security incident that is having a significant impact on the operation of its network and/or service. The obligation is set out in the Communications Regulation and Digital Hub Development Agency (Amendment) Act 2023 and in ComReg Decision Instrument D08/24. Section 11(1) of the Act of 2023 obliges providers of ECN/ECS to notify ComReg of any security incident with a significant impact. ComReg Decision Instrument D08/24 sets out the thresholds by which operators of ECS/ECN are to report to ComReg. This is important as not all faults on an ECS/ECN may impact the availability of the network and/or service, the obligation is to notify ComReg of incidents that have a significant impact on the operation of its network and/or service. The reporting thresholds set out in D08/24 aim to define incidents that have a significant impact. Once ComReg has become aware of such incidents, it is obliged to inform my Department.
The most significant parts of Ireland’s undersea energy infrastructure are the gas pipelines between Ireland and the UK. These are managed and operated on behalf of the State by Gas Networks Ireland (GNI). GNI work with relevant agencies and Departments within the State, including the Defence Forces, in conjunction with relevant counterparts in the UK, regarding the protection of these key energy infrastructure assets. It would not be appropriate for me to discuss security related matters in this regard, but it should be noted that the Tanaiste and Minister for Defence has advised that his Department is progressing a new national Maritime Security Strategy.
The Deputy might wish to note that last December, Exercise Cathal took place in the National Emergency Coordination Centre (NECC). This table-top exercise tested the whole of government response to a prolonged gas outage in Ireland as a result of the two gas interconnectors being compromised. The Exercise was attended by over 80 representatives from all Government Departments and agencies. The learnings and recommendations from the Exercise were presented to the Government Task Force (GTF) on Emergency Planning on 11 March 2025, chaired by the Tanaiste and Minister for Defence. Since Exercise Cathal in December, the Government has progressed the establishment of a Strategic Emergency Gas Reserve, which will serve as an appropriate insurance policy against the impact of any such incident.
