Mr. Cian FitzGerald:

Regarding the Cathaoirleach’s comments on the role of Russia, we would not be the first people to acknowledge the potential threat Russia poses to Ireland. In previous Defence Forces reviews, the outsized presence of the Russian Embassy in Ireland was acknowledged. We focused on how, as Russia's war in Ukraine continues, Russia continues to be aggressive towards European states and to threaten not just Ukraine but also EU member states. It may try to look for weak points in Europe. There is the potential that Ireland may not be attacked because it wants to attack Ireland but as a vector of attacking the EU as a whole.

As to what we are doing nationally, one of the key points we are trying to focus on is jointness. The Commission on the Defence Forces has acknowledged there needs to be greater jointness in the Defence Forces organisation itself. It is about trying to find jointness then through the Civil Service as well in responding to emergencies. We are also trying to find jointness in bringing in private sector actors. This provides opportunities drawing on the Swedish model.

They include private sector actors, such as local mayors, in their emergency planning for disaster relief and in drills for mass casualty events. They include the private sector in that and try to ensure that as much of society is involved in the response to make sure it is as effective as possible.

On top of that, regarding co-ordination and drawing on the private sector, I would like to reflect back on my first recommendation on data sharing, and my point about having access to different types of data. One of the advantages that governments have is that they have access to geostrategic-type data and classified intelligence reports. We have access, through the EU Intelligence and Situation Centre to a different type of data and we have our own capabilities. The challenge is that a lot of the incident data is held in private hands. It is either not reported to the State when the cyberattacks happen, or it is held by insurance companies or the companies that have been targeted themselves. That is the gap in information that exists between the private sector and the Government. Certainly, greater communication in that area, and trying to do it in a way that respects the proprietariness of the data, could enable the State to have a better idea of the full range of the threats that it is facing and the types of threats it is facing.

I would also like to reflect on Ireland's international role and the EU Strategic Compass for Security and Defence. Overall, the role that the EU is playing with the strategic compass is trying to find out how it can become complementary to NATO. It is an ongoing experiment and a negotiation that has been going on against the backdrop of war right on Europe's doorstep. We have had to do the negotiation very rapidly, and we have taken tremendous strides. We probably would have seen the progress be made over a much longer timeframe if Russia had not invaded Ukraine. Certainly, what we are seeing with the EU is that it is playing a greater role in the European defence industry. The act in support of ammunition production, ASAP, directive was recently proposed. It focuses on providing ammunition for Ukraine, as well as ensuring that the EU is producing enough ammunition for its own armed forces. That is certainly a role that the EU can play. It already has experience in industrial policy, and it can draw on that experience.

Regarding Ireland's role within the strategic compass and perhaps the EU military assistance mission to Ukraine, there are certain capabilities that we have, such as the quite highly developed demining capability. It was a wonderful opportunity for Ireland to be able to contribute a small cohort of soldiers to participate in that mission to help train Ukrainian soldiers to demine their country, which is now the most mined country in Europe. Going forward overall, there will be smaller capabilities that Ireland will have, and it will be able to lend its expertise as part of the EU strategic compass. This will not be the last time that Ireland will have an opportunity to share its expertise.