Malcolm Byrne
Question:120. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the actions he is taking in view of the increase in drone and hybrid attacks by Russia across Europe. [56818/25]
View answerTuesday, 21 October 2025
Questions (120)
Written answers
The Government has strongly condemned violation of EU airspace by the Russian Federation. These actions threaten the security of EU citizens, as well as regional stability and international peace.
In response to the violation of Poland's airspace by Russian drones, which took place on 10 September, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade summonsed the representative at the Russian Embassy in Dublin to express our strong condemnation. Along with EU partners, Ireland has condemned further violations of the airspace of EU Member States since then.
Through its sustained pursuit of hybrid campaigns, Russia is a major threat to stability, democracy and social cohesion throughout Europe and beyond.
We are actively and constructively engaging in the development of EU policies aimed at combatting hybrid threats and in particular Russia’s campaign of hybrid activity against the EU and its Member States. We support the full use of all tools available to prevent, deter and respond to Russia’s hybrid activities – including through sanctions.
We continue to work with our EU partners to strengthen our collective resilience. Domestically, the Government is implementing a range of relevant measures to combat hybrid threats from state and non-state actors, including Russia, its proxies and aligned actors.
At the Foreign Affairs Council on 20 October, I participated in discussions on Russian's war of aggression against Ukraine, where I welcomed consideration of further efforts to counter the Russian shadow fleet. At the informal European Council meting on 1 October, EU leaders discussed progress on the nine priority areas in the field of defence that they had identified in March 2025, including drones and anti-drone systems.
Ireland will continue to monitor developments in relation to the anti-drone projects and initiatives under the EU’s White Paper/Readiness 2030 initiatives and assess how developments in this regard align with our Military Radar Programme. This programme is being actively progressed, with the ambition to deliver all elements by the end of 2028.