Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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70. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the extent to which the European Union might see fit to contribute towards Ireland's defence and security, with particular reference to coastal air and sea surveillance given the very significant shoreline and the multiplicity of undersea cables in the seas around the coast and the contribution this could make to European security; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28192/24]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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This question seeks to ascertain and to encourage the European Union to make a solid contribution to the defence of the Irish coastline, which is a very long and vulnerable coastline particularly during the time in which we live. Given we have the power and willingness to do so ourselves we may need assistance because of the threat being presented from outside of the European Union.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The EU and its member states - including Ireland - have significant strategic interests in identifying and addressing security challenges linked to the coastal defence, and Ireland takes part in a range of EU initiatives in this regard. In October 2023, the European Union approved its revised European Union maritime security strategy and related action plan, aimed at addressing security challenges at sea and aligned with recent European Union policy frameworks and instruments, such as the strategic compass for security and defence.

While I stress that defence remains a national competence, Ireland sees the value in member states’ national maritime activities voluntarily feeding into greater European Union co-operation and adding value where possible and has availed of opportunities provided by our membership of the European Union’s Common Security and Defence Policy in this regard. We take part in the existing European naval maritime surveillance information-sharing network EDA MARSUR project; the PESCO project Upgrade of Maritime Surveillance which aims to enhance maritime situational awareness; and the PESCO project maritime semi autonomous systems for mine counter-measures which aims to deliver a high level collaboration and delivery of semi-autonomous underwater, surface and aerial technologies which can be used in a mine counter-measures role.

Ireland is also observing on the PESCO project on critical seabed infrastructure protection, which aims to increase the European Union’s operational efficiency in the protection of critical maritime infrastructure protection. Government approval has been obtained to move to participant status on this project, and a motion on participation in this project was taken by the Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence earlier today. A further debate will be held on this matter in the Dáíl tomorrow.

Another PESCO project Ireland is observing on is harbour and maritime surveillance and protection which aims to implement a deployable integrated capability system for the continuous protection of vessels, harbours and any other offshore critical infrastructure able to properly prevent and counter threats. This work will enhance the resilience of critical entities that provide services essential for vital societal functions including critical seabed infrastructure.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I welcome the Tánaiste's response to what is a very important issue but also from the point of view of the vulnerability of the State from drug-running, a possible outbreak of hostilities along vulnerable sections of our coastline, and the possibility of our forces being stretched beyond capacity at any given time. What is the extent to which recognition is given that the strength of the defence of our coastline depends on the weakest link? Whatever it is, that is where we are at. Are our European colleagues fully aware of the extent to which Ireland is on the front line insofar as coastal protection is concerned?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Generally speaking, we need to be careful about the language that gets used in this domain. There is a lot of noise around the place about weakest links and all the rest of it. In terms of drugs, there was a very successful intervention last September involving Army Rangers, the Air Corps, the Naval Service, An Garda Síochána and Revenue. It was the largest cocaine haul in the history of the State. What struck me was, in the immediate aftermath of that there was a lot of negativity. There seems to be this knee-jerk response that we cannot praise them too much because there should have been additional this and additional that.

The primary responsibility for the prevention, detection, inception and seizure and controlled drugs is the customs service of the Revenue Commissioners who do fantastic work. They have two Revenue customs cutters to patrol the coastline. The Naval Service and An Garda Síochána are all involved, collectively.

Generally speaking, on drug interdiction it is all about intelligence, collating it and working with others. The ship we interdict here - it is not by accident that it is interdicted. There is a lot of work early on in the chain and a sequence of events has happened. People are monitoring at different parts of the journey and in different jurisdictions. We need to understand that.

Our fisheries section can monitor the seas now, our exclusive economic zone, and can remotely circulate from Haulbowline on a 24-7 basis.

Our two new C295 planes give us very advanced technology that we did not have before in terms of maritime surveillance. It is not just about ships; it is about a whole lot of other things.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I welcome that extra information. It is very reassuring. We should also be aware that while our defences are improving, and rightly so, the threat is also increasing as time goes by. The Tánaiste said so himself and identified what had to be done, even though there are some discordant voices whenever that issue is raised. The Tánaiste is to be congratulated on taking the stand he has taken and on recognising the responsibilities that are on the Irish defence and security forces in respect of not only this country but also Europe.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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If I can return to the Deputy's earlier question on Europe, we had the Committee Stage debate today and some Members were in attendance. There has been a nervousness in this House about participating in PESCO, for example. Historically, Ireland's level of participation has been low. For the life of me I cannot understand this. Tomorrow in the Dáil we will have the debate on this. We are participating in critical seabed infrastructure with other member states of Europe on a programme to try to understand it better and work with others. We are participating on cybersecurity in a PESCO project and also with the European Defence Agency, along with other member states. We will not be able to protect ourselves against cybersecurity attacks if we do not collaborate and co-operate with other member states of Europe and indeed further afield. It is about sharing knowledge against these perpetrators of cybercrime, which can destroy utilities. It could destroy water supplies, or health services, as we saw in the HSE attack. It is the same with critical seabed infrastructure. It is a very complex area, a lot of technology involved. It is not all just about ships. We need the know-how. We need to share our know-how with others and they with us. That is how we beat it and keep on top of it. I could not agree more with the Deputy. On the squeamishness sometimes around participating in PESCO, we need to wise up a small bit. This is not groundbreaking. Today we were talking about an energy management course that will cost about €1,500 to join and maybe €5,000 per member and there was only four to six joining. Someone will stand up and say that is threatening neutrality. That is where we are in the national debate in Ireland. We need to have a really serious debate. That energy management programme, which I think was under EDA or PESCO, will enable us to get better systems for our own barracks.