Tom Brabazon (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)

As the Taoiseach will be aware, in 2019 the Government proposed to develop a national security strategy. The new strategy at that time aimed to set out a whole-of-government approach on how the State could protect its national security and vital interests. Over a period of five years, from 2020 to 2025, the current and emerging threats have changed significantly and the threats have increased significantly, particularly given the international context in which we find ourselves, to which other Deputies have alluded.

I welcome that national security is given such a high profile, with the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste, the Ministers for foreign affairs, Defence, Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, the Secretaries General of those Departments, the Defence Forces Chief of Staff, the National Cyber Security Centre director, and the Taoiseach's and Tánaiste's chiefs of staff also attending meetings. It is crucial that the council keeps abreast of this issue and meets regularly to keep on top of the continuing threats.

I welcome the fact that the State has announced a contract to develop a new sonar system which will be a towed sonar capability. When attached to an Irish naval vessel, it will assist the Defence Forces with monitoring subsea areas in Ireland's exclusive economic zones. It will help with fisheries, drug and other criminal detection.

See this speech in context