Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The EU and its Member States, including Ireland, have significant strategic interests in identifying and addressing security challenges linked to the coastal defence, and Ireland takes part in a range of EU initiatives in this regard.

In October 2023, the EU approved its revised EU maritime security strategy (EUMSS) and related Action Plan, aimed at addressing security challenges at sea. Together, the two documents provide a comprehensive framework for tackling various threats and challenges at sea. The revised strategy and its action plan have been aligned with recent EU policy frameworks and instruments, such as the Strategic Compass for Security and Defence.

On the basis of the updated EU Maritime Security Strategy, the Strategic Compass aims to, by 2025, further develop and strengthen the EU’s maritime security awareness mechanisms such as the Common Information Sharing Environment (CISE) and Maritime Surveillance (MARSUR) to advance interoperability, facilitate decision-making and support increased operational effectiveness. It also aims to further increase the visibility of EU Member States naval presence within and beyond the EU, including through port calls, training and exercises as well as capacity building.

While defence remains a national competence, Ireland sees the value in Member States’ national maritime activities voluntarily feeding into greater EU cooperation and adding value where possible, and has availed of opportunities provided by our membership of the EU’s Common Security & Defence policy in this regard, such as taking part in the following:

• the existing European naval maritime surveillance information-sharing network EDA MARSUR Project
• the Greek led PESCO project “Upgrade of Maritime Surveillance’ which aims to enhance maritime situational awareness
• the Belgian led PESCO project Maritime (Semi) Autonomous Systems for Mine Counter-Measures (MAS-MCM) which aims to deliver a high level collaboration and delivery of semi-autonomous underwater, surface and aerial technologies which can be used in a Mine Counter-Measures role.

Ireland is also observing on the PESCO project on Critical Seabed Infrastructure Protection, which aims to increase the EU’s operational efficiency in the protection of critical maritime infrastructure protection by making best use of current, and the development of future, underwater assets.

Another PESCO project Ireland is observing on is Harbour & Maritime Surveillance and Protection (HARMSPRO) which aims to implement a deployable integrated capability system for the continuous protection of vessels, harbours and any other littoral and offshore critical infrastructure able to properly prevent and counter asymmetric (drones included) threats in a three-dimensional environment.

My Department is also working to transpose the new European Directive on the Resilience of Critical Entities. This work will enhance the resilience of critical entities that provide services essential for vital societal functions. In advance of the enactment of this Directive and because of the increased threat to critical infrastructure, the Department of Defence has worked with the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications and energy operators to stress test critical infrastructure in the energy sector in Ireland against man-made threats.

Given my regular engagement in EU discussions on the matter of Maritime Security and the extensive range of activities with which Ireland is closely and actively involved, I do not see a need to request specific additional European Union assistance towards Ireland’s coastal security. My Department will continue to review existing and future opportunities that may arise via our membership of the European Union in terms of addressing challenges identified.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Defence Forces is maintained to the greatest extent possible to enable the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service to carry out their roles as assigned by Government.

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 including maritime surveillance, drug interdiction, search and rescue, and maritime defence and security operations (MDSO). As such any Naval Service patrol should be viewed as a multi-faceted activity.

The Naval Operations Command Centre located at Naval Base Haulbowline is staffed twenty four hours a day seven days a week by qualified Naval Service personnel who carry out monitoring and surveillance of all vessels equipped with a Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) that are operating in and adjacent to the Irish EEZ.

Aerial monitoring and surveillance of the Irish EEZ is carried out by the Air Corps Maritime Patrol Squadron. Two new C295 maritime patrol aircraft equipped with state-of-the-art surveillance and communication equipment were delivered to the Air Corps in 2023 to replace the existing CASA CN235 aircraft. Following an intensive period of training and verification, the new aircraft have commenced operations.