Galway could be considered as the location for a new naval base as part of Ireland’s first ever maritime security strategy.
A public consultation on the strategy was announced by Tánaiste Simon Harris on Thursday.
Mr Harris, who is also Minister for Defence, said it would map out an approach for the next five years with a particular focus on how to deal with “emerging threats and vulnerabilities” and the protection of the country’s sub-sea infrastructure.
Announcing the consultation process during the Dáil’s defence question time, he said it will run for four weeks and invite individuals and groups with interest to make a submission.
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“The intention is to have a new maritime security strategy approved and published before the end of this year. We’re an island nation with one of the largest sea areas in Europe and it’s absolutely vital that we have a robust and effective maritime security strategy in place,” he said.
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“I think this strategy would be crucial to assessing any potential threats and vulnerabilities.”
Mr Harris said there would “absolutely be a need” for more naval facilities as Fianna Fáil TD John Connolly highlighted the recommendation of the Commission on the Defence Forces for a base for the Naval Reserve in Galway.
“I think this should form part of the strategy,” Mr Connolly said. “The West coast between Limerick and Donegal really has no coastal cover in terms of maritime defence and this is quite a wide area.”
The Galway West TD pointed out that some of the transatlantic sub-sea cables come through Galway and Mayo.
Mr Harris said he intended to speak directly to the Naval Service and to the Chief of Staff on plans for the expansion of such bases. Ireland’s sole naval base is located at Haulbowline, Co Cork.
“Getting this strategy right is so important. We live in a country where around 78 per cent of our energy needs are imported on ships or via pipelines. Around 90 per cent of our trade is transported by sea and 95 per cent of international data and voice transfers are rooted through our undersea fibre optic cables,” he said.
“The majority of transatlantic data passes through the cables situated in Ireland’s economic exclusive zone.”
He stressed that strategic planning would be crucial to assessing potential threats and vulnerabilities and urged “the many people who have an expertise in this, to make their views known”.
“[They should] bring forward their ideas on how we can put in place a strategy that will ensure we really take the critical opportunity to have a new and a robust approach to safeguarding our waters.”
Mr Harris said the Government is also looking at a new national security plan for Ireland more broadly. Co-ordinated by the Department of the Taoiseach, its purpose will be to ensure there are no “silos” or overlapping pieces of legislation and that “the maritime situation can also be considered in that context”.
