Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 6 November 2025
17. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the measures being taken to protect any threats of damage to vital subterranean and submarine infrastructure, with Ireland being a major international junction of such infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60408/25]
View answer27. Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the specific actions being undertaken to defend Ireland's maritime and undersea infrastructure. [60235/25]
View answer49. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the means by which the Naval Service is contributing to the protection of Ireland’s maritime territory and critical infrastructure, including subsea communication cables and offshore renewable energy installations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58781/25]
View answer59. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence given the risk to our undersea cables and other critical sub-sea infrastructure, the steps his Department is taking to increase the level of naval protection for Irelands Exclusive Economic Zone; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60300/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 17, 27, 49 and 59 together.
The Defence Forces routinely carry out monitoring and surveillance of Ireland’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) using both Naval Service assets and Air Corps maritime patrol aircraft. In addition to at sea monitoring, the Naval Operations Command Centre in Haulbowline carries out remote monitoring twenty four hours a day, seven days a week.
It is clear that protecting critical undersea infrastructure requires collaboration within the State as well as collaboration with other European states to provide a broader understanding of what is occurring in the greater maritime space. This means that Government Departments and agencies, infrastructure operators, the Defence Forces, the private sector and academia all have a part to play. Safeguarding critical undersea infrastructure requires a multifaceted approach with a wide variation of parties involved.
To that end, my Department has taken the lead in the development of a National Maritime Security Strategy following identification of maritime security as a priority in last year’s Defence Policy Review. This strategy is being developed in consultation with national and international stakeholders and I look forward to its submission to me before the end of this year.
Earlier this year, I approved the Defence Forces participation in the Common Information Sharing Environment (CISE). Joining CISE will support better monitoring and surveillance of growing threats at sea and will help improve the Defence Forces maritime domain awareness. This will aid their decision-making during complex maritime operational scenarios as well as their ability to share information with other EU maritime organisations.
I recently announced the signing of a multi-million euro contract with Thales DMS for the provision of towed sonar capability for the Defence Forces. The new sonar capability will be used on Irish Naval vessels to monitor activities in the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and, in particular, in the vicinity of subsea communication cables or gas pipelines.
Ireland is actively participating in a number EU PESCO (Permanent Structure Cooperation) projects including, Critical Seabed Infrastructure Protection, Maritime Autonomous and semi-Autonomous Systems for Mine Countermeasures and Upgrade of Maritime Surveillance. These collaborations will enhance cooperation with EU participating states thus benefiting Ireland in the protections of undersea critical infrastructure by enhancing maritime surveillance, situational awareness, response effectiveness and integration of systems.
