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

A civil-military working group has been established to progress a project for the enhancement of subsea awareness capabilities, as recommended by the Commission on the Defence Forces and referenced in the detailed implementation plan, which was published last November. That project is under way.

One of the projects under NATO’s Partnership for Peace is on maritime security and relates specifically to subsea cables. We have to collaborate with other countries and share information and expertise. It is a complex and high-tech area. The Deputy is correct that private sector companies will have to provide more information. There is maritime law on the ownership of data, data traffic and so on. Additionally, in the EU PESCO projects that we are participating in, we highlight the subsea area, including subsea cables, when it comes to maritime security.

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