Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North-Central, Fianna Fail)
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35. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence for an update on the national maritime security strategy; the timeframe for delivery of the strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59445/25]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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67. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the progress to date in developing a national maritime security strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60409/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 35 and 67 together.

I wish to advise the Deputy, that my Department has taken the lead in the development of a National Maritime Security Strategy following identification of maritime security as a priority in last year’s Defence Policy Review. This strategy is being developed in consultation with national and international stakeholders.

Key elements of this new strategy will be enhancing maritime domain awareness and protecting critical maritime infrastructure, especially critical undersea infrastructure. An early action in this regard was my approval in April for Defence Forces’ participation in the EU’s Common Information Sharing Environment (CISE). Joining CISE will support better monitoring and surveillance of growing threats at sea and will help improve the Defence Force’s maritime domain awareness.

In support of the development of the strategy, I launched a public consultation on 12 June. The aim was to gather a diverse range of perspectives on the preparation of the strategy and to build consensus on the risks, challenges and opportunities facing Ireland’s maritime domain. It attracted significant engagement with approximately 300 submissions received from a wide range of interested parties, including responses from government departments, academia, industry and members of the public. Analysis of these submissions shows a clear understanding of Ireland’s maritime security challenges particularly the vulnerability of critical maritime infrastructure. There is support for a focus on defence and security priorities when it comes to dealing with risks and threats in our maritime domain.

In addition, my department has undertaken extensive outreach to identify and explore opportunities to cooperate with our neighbouring countries and with international institutions. This significant international engagement has allowed us to access examples of best practice and to learn from the extensive experience in monitoring and protecting critical maritime infrastructure that many of our neighbours have developed.

My Department is developing this strategy in consultation with representatives from a number of government departments, organisations and agencies with responsibilities in the maritime security domain to ensure a whole of government approach.

I look forward to its delivery to me before the end of this year.