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Irish Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Daily Mirror
Defence Forces to increase patrols to combat Russian ships in Irish waters
The Defence Forces are to increase both air and naval patrols to combat Russian ships on illegal manoeuvres 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." Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
Irish Examiner
15-06-2025
- 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
15-06-2025
- 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.
