Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We have good energy security in Ireland. We have our ports. A very significant announcement was made today on investing in Rosslare port, in particular. We have electricity and gas interconnection with the UK and are now developing an electricity interconnector between France and Ireland. We will need more interconnection to improve our security in the period ahead.

Deputy Bríd Smith is absolutely correct that underwater cables and pipelines are a security issue, more so than ever given what has been happening with Nord Stream and so-called scientific vessels in our waters. Crucially, part of what will have to change is design, making sure that future cables laid will be much harder to interfere with and tamper with. That was a big part of our discussions in Ostend yesterday. It is also a case of stepping up the capabilities of our Naval Service, radar and aerial surveillance to monitor what is happening in our exclusive economic zone.

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