Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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127. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence for an update on measures being taken to protect any threat of damage to vital subterranean and submarine infrastructure, with Ireland being a major international junction of such infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29794/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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As you are aware Ireland has experienced a significant shift in our security landscape over the past year, similar to several other European countries. There's now heightened attention on maritime security and safeguarding subsea cables. Ensuring the security of Ireland's subsea infrastructure remains a top priority for the government. Ireland is also currently observing on the PESCO project on Critical Seabed Infrastructure Protection, which aims to increase the EU’s operational efficiency in the protection of critical maritime infrastructure protection. Participation in this project is one means of allowing Ireland to address and mitigate risks posed to subsea architecture somewhat, as the Project will facilitate strengthening capabilities with regard to protecting critical undersea infrastructure, thereby increasing the security and resilience of this infrastructure. Government and Dáil approval has recently been granted for Ireland to join this PESCO Project. The process of requesting participant status has now commenced.

My Department has also worked with the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications and energy operators to stress test critical infrastructure in the energy sector in Ireland against man-made threats. The results of these tests have been shared with the European Commission, as part of a cross-EU process.