Defence Forces to increase patrols to combat Russian ships in Irish waters
The revelation was made by the Defence Minister Simon Harris as part of a new National Maritime Security Strategy that is currently being finalised.
The Government will also speed up the €300 million purchase of a new radar defence system for the State along with sonar capability for its fleet.
Four out of our eight naval ships are in operation at the moment but the pressure is now on to hire more recruits to get them all back out to sea.
The Irish military has also signed up to the EU's Common Information Sharing Environment system which will help track all vessels coming in and out of our Atlantic Waters up to 200 miles off the west coast.
The Government has been coming under increasing pressure from other European states to invest more money in defence and to keep a far closer eye on Russian activities in Irish territorial waters.
It follows a year after various Russian ships made secret inclusions into the Exclusive Irish Economic Zone, as it is known, and acted suspiciously around the various international sea cables that come ashore off the west coast.
Ireland is the main point linking the internet between Europe and the United States.
Mr Harris has assured the public he is taking the Russian threat seriously.
He said in a series of replies to parliamentary questions about Russia's activities in Irish water: "The Defence Forces routinely monitor foreign vessels with both Naval Service Assets and Air Corps maritime patrol aircraft as well as remote monitoring on a 24/7 basis from the Naval Operations Command Centre in Haulbowline. Tanaiste Simon Harris
"It should be noted that foreign 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.
"In relation to additional measures being introduced to strengthen maritime security and surveillance, My Department is working to deliver Ireland's first ever National Maritime Security Strategy.
"The aim of the strategy is, amongst other things, to enhance our maritime domain awareness and to protect our critical infrastructure." Troops marching during Tanaiste Simon Harris's visit to Camp Shamrock. (Image: PA)
During the past two years the Air Corps has brought into service two state-of-the-art Airbus C295 Maritime Patrol Aircraft.
The Navy has also started using the P70 Class ship to further help and enable more sea operations.
The new intelligence deal with the EU will also result in more secure information being shared with Ireland.
Mr Harris added: "This EU programme 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."
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