Martin Daly presses the Taoiseach on EU security strategy
Martin Daly asked the Taoiseach whether Ireland has a formal strategy for security cooperation amid a shifting international political climate, warning that Ireland has historically underinvested in its security forces. Daly argued the State may be expected to contribute more to EU security and asked how infrastructure, borders, airspace and waters would be protected.
Martin Daly pressed the Taoiseach on whether there is a strategy for formal security cooperation to address potential threats or attacks on Ireland or the European Union, highlighting past underinvestment and reliance on others for airspace and maritime protection.
The Taoiseach responded that he would not say the US had disengaged yet, noting remarks and recent visits by other leaders and observing that "the tectonic plates look like they're shifting" in the rules-based international order, while urging caution in commentary about those changes.
The Taoiseach pointed to Ireland's membership of Partnership for Peace with NATO, including an individually tailored plan to increase capability and resilience in cyber security, subsea cables and maritime security, and to participation in PESCO with a focus on cyber and maritime security.
He said there is an ongoing programme of investment in the defence forces aimed at increasing defence capability and resilience to address the types of threats discussed.
Question on national security strategy
Martin Daly pressed the Taoiseach on whether there is a strategy for formal security cooperation to address potential threats or attacks on Ireland or the European Union, highlighting past underinvestment and reliance on others for airspace and maritime protection.
Assessment of international climate
The Taoiseach responded that he would not say the US had disengaged yet, noting remarks and recent visits by other leaders and observing that "the tectonic plates look like they're shifting" in the rules-based international order, while urging caution in commentary about those changes.
Participation in security initiatives
The Taoiseach pointed to Ireland's membership of Partnership for Peace with NATO, including an individually tailored plan to increase capability and resilience in cyber security, subsea cables and maritime security, and to participation in PESCO with a focus on cyber and maritime security.
Defence investment programme
He said there is an ongoing programme of investment in the defence forces aimed at increasing defence capability and resilience to address the types of threats discussed.
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Transcript
Taoiseach, given the current fluid international political climate and the apparent disengagement of the US from European security, Ireland may be expected to contribute more to EU security. Historically, we have underinvested in our security forces, relying on others to protect our airspace and waters. With the need to protect our infrastructure and secure our borders, do we have a strategy for formal security cooperation to address potential threats or attacks on ourselves or the European Union? Deputy Daly, I think, made a very key point. First of all, I wouldn't say the US have disengaged quite yet. I think there are different things happening. Things are getting said. I don't think we should do a running commentary, given the changes that are occurring. I mean, President Macron's visit yesterday was interesting. Prime Minister Starmer. The tectonic plates look like they're shifting in terms of the world order or in terms of the multilateral rules-based order, but we shouldn't give up on that yet. There's a lot to play for in terms of the rules-based international order and the role of smaller countries. But I think increased defence capability, yes. We are members of Partnership for Peace with NATO, where we have developed an individually tailored plan for increased capability and resilience in cyber security and on subsea cables and maritime security. And we're also participants in PESCO, which is a European Union initiative, again on cyber security predominantly and on maritime security as well. And we have a programme of investment in our defence forces on an ongoing basis.