Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

61. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he has carried out a SWOT analysis or any other detailed analysis on Ireland joining the European Sky Shield Initiative; if he has any concerns that Northern Ireland could be under this protective umbrella, leaving the State more vulnerable and exposed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38695/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI), spearheaded by Germany, was launched in 2022, with the self-declared aim of creating a European air and missile defence system through the joint acquisition of air defence equipment and missiles by European nations in order to strengthen NATO’s integrated air and missile defence.

While my Department is aware of the ESSI, Ireland has not received a direct invitation to join the initiative. As the deputy will be aware, decision-making power with regard to Defence remains a national competence under the European Treaties, and it remains a matter for Ireland, and every other individual EU Member State to decide its own way forward in this regard both with regard to bilateral or multilateral or EU initiatives. If such an invitation is received it will be examined in full cognizance of Ireland's national policy in this area.

I wish to assure the Deputy, however, that Department officials are considering ESSI and other European developments regarding Air and Missile Defence while focusing on developing Ireland’s own capabilities in this area. Work on the development of military radar capabilities is underway by my Department. This is an ambitious and complex programme of three related air defence and radar projects (collectively termed the Military Radar – Recognised Air Picture Programme) which will contribute to the establishment of a Recognised Air Picture as follows:

• Land based Long Range Primary Radar;
• Ground Based Air Defence System (to include Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems capability);
• Maritime Ship Borne Radar System.