Govt, UK set up protocol to report subsea cable incidents

The Irish government and the UK have established a protocol for reporting subsea cable incidents. This collaboration follows a tabletop exercise known as Eastern Pearl, which tested a joint response to cable disruptions. Ireland's Department of Culture, Communications and Sport has set up the Subsea Communications Cables Industry Forum, consisting of government representatives and cable operators.

Minister for Defence Helen McEntee highlighted that subsea cables in Irish waters carry a significant amount of global internet traffic and are increasingly vulnerable due to hybrid threats from Russia. Ireland's maritime domain is seven times larger than its land area, and 75% of transatlantic data cables pass through its waters.

Over 80% of Ireland's natural gas arrives via two subsea pipelines, and 90% of its trade volume moves by sea. McEntee emphasized the need for greater collaboration between governments and industry to safeguard subsea cables, energy pipelines, and maritime infrastructure. The Irish EU Presidency hosted a flagship defense event focusing on maritime security, with the government's National Maritime Security Strategy prioritizing the protection of critical undersea infrastructure.

The Irish Defence Forces now have specific roles in protecting territorial seas and the Exclusive Economic Zone, and they are working on a Defense Forces node to access the EU's Common Information Sharing Environment, expected to be operational in 2027. The government has increased Ireland's defense budget by about 45% since 2022, investing in military radar, sonar programmes, counter unmanned aircraft systems capabilities, and revitalizing the naval base in Cork.

McEntee stressed the importance of continuing EU efforts to deter Russia's shadow fleet operations, particularly as sanctions targeting these vessels and their supporting ecosystem persist.