Latest news with #MaritimeSecurityStrategy
The Journal
15-06-2025
- Business
- The Journal
Ireland signs deal with French company for sonar to detect submarines and monitor undersea cables
IRELAND HAS SIGNED a multi-million euro deal with French company Thales DMS for sonar for the Irish Naval Service which will be able to detect submerged submarines and help to protect subsea cables. The Tánaiste Simon Harris, who is Minister for Defence, signed the deal in recent days for what will be a towed sonar array. This will be a device which is dragged behind naval ships and monitors what is below the surface. The Department of Defence has said the sonar, the first of its kind in Ireland, will be used for 'monitoring and surveillance in the subsea domain, thus significantly enhancing maritime security'. It is anticipated that it will be operational in 2027. The announcement comes just days after the public consultation for a Maritime Security Strategy was launched . Harris said that the state-of-the-art sonar system will be key to monitoring activities around subsea internet and electricity interconnector cables as well as gas pipelines. '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,' he said. The Tánaiste said that it is part of the programme for Government commitment on the protection of critical undersea infrastructure and also a realisation of recommendations in the Commission on the Defence Forces report to enable the Irish military to monitor under the waves. The Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces, Lieutenant General Rossa Mulcahy, also welcomed the signing of the deal. '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 Óglaigh na hÉireann,' he said. Advertisement Tánaiste and Defence Simon Harris. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo It is understood that the information gathered by sonar project will feed into a European wide strategic information picture. The Irish use of the data will also be used to detect illegal fishing, drug trafficking as well as espionage and terrorist activities. It has not been revealed what the exact type of sonar will be but sources have referenced the CAPTAS range offered by Thales . In February last year the French company supplied its top of the range system CAPTAS-4 to the US Navy. This system is on many naval ships across the world including British, French, Italian, Spanish and Chilean navies. Sources believe the most likely equipment for the Irish Naval Service will be the CAPTAS-1 system which is for use by smaller patrol ships. It is understood work is continuing of the procurement and assessment of companies for the proposed primary radar to monitor the air and sea around Ireland as well as a major project to equip Ireland with new armoured personnel carriers. The Department of Defence is taking the lead in the coordination and development of Ireland's first National Maritime Security Strategy; The Naval Service are observers on an EU co-operation PESCO project on Critical Seabed Infrastructure Protection. The Government also recently approved the Defence Forces' participation in the Common Information Sharing Environment (CISE). This is 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. Recently the Department of Defence worked with the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications and energy operators to stress test critical infrastructure in the energy sector in Ireland against man-made threats. The results of these tests have been shared with the European Commission, as part of a cross-EU process. 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
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Maritime alliance 'won't undermine Ireland's neutrality'
The Irish government has said membership of a European maritime alliance will not undermine the county's neutrality. The Tánaiste and Minister for Defence Simon Harris has given the Irish Defence Forces approval to formally join the Common Information Sharing Environment (CISE). The government said CISE enables more effective operations at sea amid new and evolving maritime threats. As part of the network, the Irish Naval Service can exchange and share information with military and civilian maritime authorities in 10 other European countries. The Irish government said CISE plays a crucial role in increasing awareness of maritime activities and improving responses to growing threats at sea, including physical and cyber-attacks on critical infrastructure, drug trafficking and other illegal activities. Ireland is joining the group at a time when the country is also establishing its first national maritime security strategy. Harris said: "I am confident that there are considerable benefits from participation in this important initiative, which is a key enabler for our Maritime Security Strategy, helping to safeguard our maritime domain, boost our resilience and helping us to contribute with partners at an EU level." Ireland's main opposition party, Sinn Féin, has raised concerns about the decision. The party's defence spokesperson, the TD (Teachta Dála) Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire, said, the minister "must ensure that this sharing of information does not impact in any way on Ireland's neutrality." Mr Ó'Laoghaire has also said that the matter has not had "the constitutionally and legally bare minimum level of scrutiny or even oversight from the Oireachtas (Irish Parliament)". He added: "I will be requesting that the Oireachtas Committee on Defence call on the Tánaiste to attend a meeting in order to outline the details of this arrangement and similar arrangements, and to address concerns that such arrangements are further eroding Irish neutrality. "Irish neutrality allows Ireland to play a positive and constructive role in global affairs, it is our best defence." Harris has insisted that the decision does not undermine Irish neutrality. He said it's a voluntary information sharing arrangement and is not about joining "any sort of military alliance". The CISE network is overseen by the European Commission with the aim of sharing information around a range of issues such as maritime safety and security, border control, the marine environment, fisheries control, trade, economic interests, and law enforcement and defence. The decision of the Irish Defence Forces to join the group comes at a time of increasing awareness in the country about potential threats to critical infrastructure including transatlantic communication cables and pipelines along the seabed off the Irish coast. There are concerns about the potential risk of sabotage by hostile states or international criminals. The challenges have been exacerbated by what many observers now regard as persistent problems around the operation of Ireland's small naval patrol fleet as well as difficulties around the recruitment of personnel into the navy. The new Irish government says improvements to maritime surveillance is now "a national defence policy priority". Ireland moves to change rules on deploying military Ireland's military neutrality sparks public debate
BBC News
14-04-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Harris: Maritime alliance 'won't undermine Ireland's neutrality'
The Irish government has said membership of a European maritime alliance will not undermine the county's Tánaiste and Minister for Defence Simon Harris has given the Irish Defence Forces approval to formally join the Common Information Sharing Environment (CISE).The government said CISE enables more effective operations at sea amid new and evolving maritime part of the network, the Irish Naval Service can exchange and share information with military and civilian maritime authorities in 10 other European countries. The Irish government said CISE plays a crucial role in increasing awareness of maritime activities and improving responses to growing threats at sea, including physical and cyber-attacks on critical infrastructure, drug trafficking and other illegal is joining the group at a time when the country is also establishing its first national maritime security said: "I am confident that there are considerable benefits from participation in this important initiative, which is a key enabler for our Maritime Security Strategy, helping to safeguard our maritime domain, boost our resilience and helping us to contribute with partners at an EU level." Neutrality is 'best defence' Ireland's main opposition party, Sinn Féin, has raised concerns about the party's defence spokesperson, the TD (Teachta Dála) Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire, said, the minister "must ensure that this sharing of information does not impact in any way on Ireland's neutrality."Mr Ó'Laoghaire has also said that the matter has not had "the constitutionally and legally bare minimum level of scrutiny or even oversight from the Oireachtas (Irish Parliament)".He added: "I will be requesting that the Oireachtas Committee on Defence call on the Tánaiste to attend a meeting in order to outline the details of this arrangement and similar arrangements, and to address concerns that such arrangements are further eroding Irish neutrality."Irish neutrality allows Ireland to play a positive and constructive role in global affairs, it is our best defence." 'Not about joining a military alliance' Harris has insisted that the decision does not undermine Irish said it's a voluntary information sharing arrangement and is not about joining "any sort of military alliance".The CISE network is overseen by the European Commission with the aim of sharing information around a range of issues such as maritime safety and security, border control, the marine environment, fisheries control, trade, economic interests, and law enforcement and decision of the Irish Defence Forces to join the group comes at a time of increasing awareness in the country about potential threats to critical infrastructure including transatlantic communication cables and pipelines along the seabed off the Irish coast. Ireland's small naval patrol fleet There are concerns about the potential risk of sabotage by hostile states or international challenges have been exacerbated by what many observers now regard as persistent problems around the operation of Ireland's small naval patrol fleet as well as difficulties around the recruitment of personnel into the new Irish government says improvements to maritime surveillance is now "a national defence policy priority".
