Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge that much of that increased commitment and focus is down to the Minister’s genuine interest in this area. I know he has a genuine interest in the Naval Service in particular. We have never seen the need for us to control our own waters more clearly demonstrated. I am thinking currently but am also looking ahead. There will be increased activity as we develop our offshore resources, particularly our energy resources. We will see increased connectivity in energy. Our gas connectors are obviously critical as are information systems. We need to be able to patrol those waters as we begin to develop that. Ireland will become important internationally and across Europe as we build superconnectors and try to unlock that renewable energy resource. It all speaks to the need to continue the work to which the Minister is genuinely committed. We need to travel in the right direction.

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