Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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121. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number foreign military exercises that have been held off the Irish Coast by country since 2015, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34217/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Military exercises or manoeuvres are traditionally recognized as being a part of the freedom of the high seas as captured in article 87 under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).  These rights are transcribed directly into the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of coastal states.

Under international law, including UNCLOS, states are entitled to carry out naval exercises in another state’s EEZ.  It is not unusual for naval ships or vessels of other States to carry out training exercises within the Irish EEZ or to passage through this area. This is not in any way an infringement of our national territory.

Where a proposed military activity in the high seas will impact on airspace,  there is a requirement to inform the State responsible for the provision of Air Traffic Services in that airspace of the activity. For Irish airspace over high seas, the Irish Aviation Authority will be informed, and will then issue a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) detailing the activity.

While foreign militaries are not obliged in most cases to inform the coastal authorities of their proposed activities, the Naval Service has collated some data in relation to encounters with foreign navies in the Irish EEZ over the past number years.  However, I will not be releasing any specific details in relation to activities of foreign militaries that are held by the Defence Forces.   I can confirm that encounters with foreign militaries in the Irish EEZ include sightings, planned visits to Ireland and hailing for information gathering.