THE MINISTER FOR Defence has said a new plan to secure Ireland’s maritime domain will be achieved by the Irish military working with third level education and industry.

Helen McEntee TD, will this morning launch Ireland’s first-ever National Maritime Security Strategy (MSS) in Dublin.

The MSS is the first of two major documents to be prepared with the broader National Security Strategy being worked on by the Department of the Taoiseach.

She will say later that the preparation of the plan was helped of approximately 300 submissions from a wide range of interests, including government bodies, academia, industry and individual members of the public.

McEntee said that the MSS is not just a policy document but an action plan to drive greater security around the coast of Ireland.

She added that it will “deliver an improved maritime security environment where citizens and Irish interests are protected”.

“Every day, we see an increasingly volatile geopolitical situation highlighting the vulnerabilities of our critical maritime infrastructure and our ability to monitor and protect our waters.

“As an island nation, we are reliant on our critical maritime infrastructure. This first-ever national strategy includes a particular a focus on risks and threats in the national security and defence space.

“The immediate focus now is on implementation and action. I will move immediately to deliver a new, whole-of-government approach to protect the security of our maritime domain, along with developing the concept of a national maritime security centre,” she added. 

McEntee will tell the launch later today that the key to realising the objectives of the plan is that Ireland will have to cooperate with regional countries and international institutions.

“This will include cooperating closely with our near neighbours on new initiatives and exploring the opportunity for Ireland to host or partner in a regional cable monitoring hub for the EU in the North Atlantic.

“While the Government’s role is essential, the private sector also has a crucial role and, indeed, a responsibility to play its part complementing that of the Government. They are the owners and operators of much of our critical maritime infrastructure and are at the heart of this new approach.

“I will also champion a new legal approach to maritime security in Ireland and ensure that the Defence Forces have all the necessary enforcement powers they need when at sea,” she added. 

McEntee said that the role of the Defence Forces, particularly the Naval Service and Air Corps, will be “a vital foundation” to implementing elements of the strategy.

“This Strategy acknowledges the key role the Naval Service undertakes in respect of supporting various maritime functions through delivery of monitoring from ashore and patrols at sea conducting multi-faceted activities, involving maritime surveillance, drug interdiction, fisheries protection, search and rescue, and maritime defence and security operations.

“The Air Corps also plays a vital role in this work through their patrolling of our seas using highly specialised maritime surveillance aircraft,” she added.