Dr. Margaret Stanley:

This is the first time we have attempted to do something like this in the State. It is a complex and very new area, as was said. It is also responding to new threats that have emerged very recently. Ireland is not the only country facing this kind of dilemma and trying to figure out a new way of approaching this issue. Many other countries we have talked to as part of this process are not too far away from our approach or the need to produce a more co-ordinated way of dealing with these kinds of threats and improving overall maritime security.

Regarding the role of this committee, it is certainly very welcome that we have been invited here today and we have been listening very closely to what kind of questions have been asked. We will be reflecting on that after this session. While the formal consultation period is over, we would very much welcome if there are specific ideas and actions the committee thinks we should pursue. We would very much take those on board and consider them as part of these various strands of work we are doing to produce the overall strategy.