Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We have to develop our own capabilities; however, with respect to subsea cables, it is not all about ships and assets. Much of this will involve mathematics, as a person recently said to me. Much expertise will be required. It also means working with semi-State bodies and private companies. I said 97% of all Internet traffic is subsea traffic. An enormous number of financial transactions use cables under the seabed. While having a sufficiency of physical assets is important, the idea that ships will be fortuitously hanging around when someone intends to go at a cable is a bit fanciful. They can be a deterrent but we have to build up sophisticated modelling and a knowledge base, working with the relevant companies. There is considerable expertise required in maritime law, which also applies. This is very complex stuff and we will not be able to deal with it on our own.

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