Ireland ‘must invest in air and sea defences’, say security experts

The LÉ Eithne leaving the Naval Base at Haulbowline on its way to berth at Kennedy Quay, Cork. Picture: Dan Linehan

Ireland must invest in its air, sea and cybersecurity to fend off threats from hostile states, such as Russia, a number of military officers and academics have said.

The security experts point to incursions into Irish airspace by Russian aircraft as well as Russian submarine activity near the Irish Sea and highlight the lack of Irish air interception capability, with a dependence on the British RAF.