Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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231. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the total number of recorded vessels that unlawfully entered Irish territorial waters during each of the years 2023 and 2024, and to date in 2025. [51802/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I can confirm that the Defence Forces monitor activity within Irish territorial waters and the Irish EEZ on a continual basis. It is important to note that The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) allows for all vessels, including military vessels, to transit through the territorial waters of coastal states when conducting innocent passage (as defined by art. 19 of UNCLOS).

Furthermore, naval vessels are permitted to conduct exercises outside of territorial waters in a country’s Exclusive Economic Zone so long as this does not unduly interfere with the Coastal State. Any vessels transiting Irish waters must do so in compliance with international law and may be subject to sighting and observation by the Naval Service and Air Corps without their innocent passage being infringed.

For security and operational reasons the Deputy will appreciate it would not be appropriate for me to comment any further.