Latest news with #NationalMaritimeSecurityStrategy
Irish Examiner
7 days ago
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Government signs new sonar contract to enhance maritime security
The Government has signed a multimillion-euro contract with Thales DMS France for the provision of towed sonar capability. The sonar, the first of its kind in Ireland, will be used for monitoring and surveillance in the subsea domain, enhancing maritime security. The new sonar capability will be used on Naval vessels to monitor activities in the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and in the vicinity of subsea communication cables or gas pipelines. Tánaiste Simon Harris said: 'This significant investment in sonar capability will provide the Naval Service with a state-of-the-art sonar system, which will enable them to build a picture of our subsea, thus contributing to the important task of protecting our critical underwater infrastructure. 'This is one of many strands of work being progressed to address the threats in our maritime domain. 'It will serve as an important first step in creating a 'pattern of life' in the subsea domain, with future projects further enhancing this capability. 'This investment will contribute to the Programme for Government commitment to focus on the protection of critical undersea. 'It also responds in part to the need identified in the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces, under Level of Ambition 2, for a number of maritime capabilities including the enhancement of sub-surface capabilities to monitor subsea cables.' Mr Harris added: 'My department is also progressing the development of the country's first National Maritime Security Strategy and a public consultation on this new strategy will be launched in the coming days.' Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces Lieutenant General Rossa Mulcahy said it would enable Naval ships to monitor the subsurface space within the maritime area. He added: 'This capability will greatly enhance the Defence Forces' situational awareness across domains and is a welcome advancement in the continued development and transformation of the Oglaigh na hEireann.' 'While the Naval Service and Air Corps regularly monitor activity on Irish seas, this new acquisition will enhance awareness below the surface, contributing to the overall maritime picture available to Naval Service and the wider Defence Forces. 'An enhanced maritime picture is also important for detecting illegal activities such as illegal fishing, drug trafficking, terrorism and espionage.' It is anticipated that this new capability will be available to the Naval Service in 2027. The Government has said maritime security is a priority and has undertaken a number of initiatives including the Department of Defence taking the lead in the co-ordination and development of Ireland's first National Maritime Security Strategy. It has also recently approved the Defence Forces' participation in the Common Information Sharing Environment, an EU initiative which enables structured and secure information-sharing among EU maritime authorities, both civil and military, allowing for more effective operations at sea amid new and evolving maritime threats. Read More Israel and Iran trade strikes for third day as nuclear talks called off
Irish Independent
7 days ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
Government signs new sonar contract to enhance maritime security amid Russian sub fears
The sonar, the first of its kind in Ireland, will be used for monitoring and surveillance in the subsea domain, enhancing maritime security. It comes amid increased fears for the security of subsea communications and electricity and gas pipelines as Russian submarines and other clandestine vessels have been detected operating in Irish waters. The new sonar capability will be used on Irish Naval vessels to monitor activities in the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and in the vicinity of subsea communication cables or gas pipelines. Tanaiste Simon Harris said: 'This significant investment in sonar capability will provide the Naval Service with a state-of-the-art sonar system, which will enable them to build a picture of our subsea, thus contributing to the important task of protecting our critical underwater infrastructure. 'This is one of many strands of work being progressed to address the threats in our maritime domain. 'It will serve as an important first step in creating a 'pattern of life' in the subsea domain, with future projects further enhancing this capability. 'This investment will contribute to the Programme for Government commitment to focus on the protection of critical undersea. 'It also responds in part to the need identified in the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces, under Level of Ambition 2, for a number of maritime capabilities including the enhancement of sub-surface capabilities to monitor subsea cables.' Mr Harris added: 'My department is also progressing the development of the country's first National Maritime Security Strategy and a public consultation on this new strategy will be launched in the coming days.' Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces Lieutenant General Rossa Mulcahy said it would enable Naval ships to monitor the subsurface space within the maritime area. ADVERTISEMENT He added: 'This capability will greatly enhance the Defence Forces' situational awareness across domains and is a welcome advancement in the continued development and transformation of the Oglaigh na hEireann.' 'While the Naval Service and Air Corps regularly monitor activity on Irish seas, this new acquisition will enhance awareness below the surface, contributing to the overall maritime picture available to Naval Service and the wider Defence Forces. 'An enhanced maritime picture is also important for detecting illegal activities such as illegal fishing, drug trafficking, terrorism and espionage.' It is anticipated that this new capability will be available to the Naval Service in 2027. The Government has said maritime security is a priority and has undertaken a number of initiatives including the Department of Defence taking the lead in the co-ordination and development of Ireland's first National Maritime Security Strategy. It has also recently approved the Defence Forces' participation in the Common Information Sharing Environment, an EU initiative which enables structured and secure information-sharing among EU maritime authorities, both civil and military, allowing for more effective operations at sea amid new and evolving maritime threats.
The Journal
12-06-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
Ireland needs a plan to protect its undersea cables and government wants your views
THE GOVERNMENT HAS asked the public to contribute to a maritime security document that will be used to secure Ireland's huge undersea cables and shipping routes in the Atlantic and Irish Sea. Tanaiste and Minister for Defence Simon Harris is launching the public consultation for the National Maritime Security Strategy . Government have said that the strategy will map out Ireland's approach to maritime security over the next five years, with a particular focus on dealing with emerging threats and vulnerabilities and protecting our subsea infrastructure. The document's public consultation phase has been announced in the context of a more dynamic fervour for defence in Europe. The Journal has learned that a major contract has been agreed and due to be announced for the provision of Sonar for the Irish Naval Service. That will likely be announced in the coming week. In December 2022 Micheál Martin, who was then Taoiseach, said that a National Security Strategy was being worked on. Public consultation began in December 2019. Earlier this year The Journal reported that the National Security Strategy had been further delayed . In February the Taoiseach said that there would be pressure on Ireland to increase Defence capability. Security and civil service sources have said that this has caused a more urgent atmosphere across State institutions. Advertisement The public consultation will run over the next four weeks with the Tánaiste today inviting submissions from interested individuals or groups. The new maritime security strategy is expected to be published before the end of the year and is likely to focus on security of critical undersea infrastructure such as internet and electrical cables. Simon Harris said: 'As an island nation with one of the largest sea areas in Europe, it is absolutely vital that we have a robust and effective maritime security strategy in place. 'This strategy will be crucial to assessing any potential threats and vulnerabilities with a particular focus on protecting our undersea infrastructure. 'As such, this public consultation that I am launching today marks a critical opportunity to shape Ireland's approach to safeguarding our waters. 'We want to encourage an open, constructive dialogue and this will enable us to build consensus on the diverse threats, risks, challenges and opportunities being faced by the country,' he said. The Department of Defence said this morning that it will be the first strategy of its kind to identify and prioritise the risks and threats Ireland faces in the maritime domain, and will include a plan to address the most urgent and immediate concerns. Ireland has one of the largest maritime EEZ in the EU, with a maritime area that is seven times our land area. Approximately 78 per cent of Ireland's energy needs is imported on ships or via pipelines and 90 per cent of Irelands trade by volume is transported by the sea. More than 95 per cent of international data and voice transfers are routed through undersea fibre optic cables and the majority of transatlantic data passes through cables situated in Ireland's EEZ. Approximately 80 per cent of the country's population live in coastal counties. The research and lead agency for the development of the strategy will be the Department of Defence's Maritime Security Unit. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
RTÉ News
11-06-2025
- Business
- RTÉ News
Tánaiste to launch country's first maritime security plan
A public consultation on Ireland's first ever National Maritime Security Strategy is due to be launched Tánaiste Simon Harris. The strategy will inform Ireland's approach to maritime security over the next five years, with a particular focus on dealing with emerging threats and protecting our subsea infrastructure. Ireland's maritime area is seven times greater than its landmass, with 90% of Ireland's trade by volume transported by the sea and over 95% of international data and voice transfers routed through undersea fibre optic cables. Mr Harris, who is also Minister for Foreign Affairs, Trade and Defence Minister, will announce the details of a four-week consultation on a new maritime security strategy in the Dáil. He is of the view that it is vital for Ireland to have a robust and effective strategy in place speedily and wants an open and constructive approach to the four-week public consultation. The target is to have a new maritime security strategy published before the end of the year.
