Martin Daly (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The issue of national security has never been more pressing. International trade and security are deeply connected. Without a strong security policy, our political and economic stability are at risk. For far too long Ireland has relied on the security frameworks of our European, UK and transatlantic partners, as well as our remote geographical location. This has bred complacency, often clouded by confusion over the status of our neutrality. However, the global landscape has shifted. Russian aggression in Ukraine, evolving geopolitical tensions and uncertainty in US foreign policy have made it clear that Europe must take greater responsibility for its own security. Ireland cannot be an outlier. Though we are not engaged in direct conflict, we are already facing serious security threats, particularly in the context of cyber and hybrid warfare. The large-scale cyberattack on the HSE was a stark warning. That attack caused severe disruption, personal data exposure risk and significant financial damage.

Attacks such as these, which are often backed by hostile states, are increasing in both the public and private sectors. I know of a health centre that was forced to pay a €10,000 ransom in bitcoin plus an additional €25,000 to restore operations. That was an enormous burden for a small business after a hack. These are not isolated incidents. This is low-intensity warfare by another name.

Beyond cyberspace, our vulnerabilities are clear. Our inability to patrol our airspace and territorial waters was humiliatingly exposed in terms of the international gaze when the Russian navy operated off our south-west coast near critical undersea fibre-optic infrastructure. Any disruption to this network would have devastating economic consequences. In this context, I welcome the establishment of the national security council, which will bring together key Government, Garda and Defence Forces leaders. This is a necessary step in ensuring that strategic security and defence policy will be treated as a national priority.

Ireland's military neutrality is well understood, but neutrality must not mean vulnerability. Our security and the security of the European Union are our responsibility too. The investment in primary radar for airspace monitoring is welcome but it must be part of a broader sustained effort. Increased funding for the Defence Forces, for recruitment and retention initiatives and for enhancements to the Naval Service and Air Corps are all steps in the right direction. Greater engagement in the European Union's common security and defence policy, PESCO and NATO's Partnership for Peace offers Ireland avenues to build security through co-operation. We need to repeal the triple lock and allow the Dáil to take back control of the deployment of our armed forces.

The European Defence Fund presents an opportunity to develop our infrastructure and consider an indigenous defence industry - something Sweden, Finland and Austria, all neutral, have successfully done. It is not tenable that Ireland lacks a mature security and defence infrastructure. Strengthening our security will not diminish our ethical and moral commitment to human rights and international aid. It is not a binary choice.

Ireland has built a strong reputation for peace and diplomacy but political and economic stability is a privilege that must be protected. We have benefited greatly from EU support, most recently evidenced during the Brexit process. We have to ask ourselves where would Ireland stand if Russia invaded the Baltic states or Poland - fellow EU member states. There is a growing sense of scepticism in Europe of Ireland's underinvestment in security. That is why the steps taken by this Government mark an important start of a long-term commitment to building Ireland's security capabilities in partnership with the EU. I welcome that.

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