Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 January 2026
272. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the steps she will take to prevent ships using Irish waters, including the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone, for transit, en route to Russian ports in breach of international sanctions against Russia; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1337/26]
View answerThe Russian shadow fleet vessels present a growing risk to the environment, maritime safety and sanctions circumvention. These vessels are transporting Russian oil while practicing irregular and high-risk shipping practices, or supporting Russia’s energy sector, including through Irish maritime zones. Ireland supports sanctions to target the shadow fleet and limit their ability to raise revenue to fund Russia’s war.
In the 19th package of sanctions the EU introduced additional measures across the shadow fleet value chain. Specifically, the 19th package included the listing of a number of maritime registries providing false flags to shadow fleet vessels, allowing their continued operation by creating a fraudulent impression of compliance with certification requirements. An additional 117 vessels were made subject to a port access ban and a ban on the provision of a broad range of services related to maritime transport, bringing the total number of designated vessels to 557. The 19th package also introduced a ban on reinsuring vessels belonging to the shadow fleet, further constraining their ability to operate. In December, Ireland welcomed the adoption of restrictive measures on a further 41 Shadow Fleet vessels. This brings the total number of vessels subject to a port access ban in the EU to over 600. A number of shadow fleet enablers were also listed at this time.
Pursuant to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the sovereignty of Ireland and all coastal states extends beyond its land territory to its territorial sea (which extends 12 nautical miles from the State’s baselines).
The exclusive economic zone (EEZ) is an area of international waters beyond and adjacent to the territorial sea (extending up to 200 nautical miles from the baselines). Within the EEZ, Ireland as the coastal state has limited sovereign rights and limited jurisdiction, which relate to living and non-living resources. In the EEZ, the vessels of all states enjoy the right to freedom of navigation.
While sanctioned vessels generally continue to have the right to freedom of navigation, my officials continue to engage regularly with our partners on efforts to counter the operation of sanctioned vessels in a manner compatible with international law. In this regard, the Foreign Affairs Council at its meeting in December 2025 adopted a Declaration of the European Union and its Member States on making full use of the international law of the sea framework relating to threats from the “shadow fleet” and to the protection of critical undersea infrastructure.
As the Deputy will appreciate, it would not be appropriate to comment on specific operational matters, however, the Naval Service and Air Corps carry out ongoing Maritime Defence and Security Operations within Ireland’s territorial sea and the Irish EEZ. Any vessels transiting through these maritime zones 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. In addition to at-sea monitoring, the Naval Operations Command Centre in Haulbowline carries out remote monitoring 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
