Ireland 'obliged' to build naval capacity to protect underwater cables and pipelines

A large disturbance in the sea off the coast of the Danish island of Bornholm last Tuesday following a series of unusual leaks on two natural gas pipelines running from Russia under the Baltic Sea to Germany have triggered concerns about possible sabotage. Picture: Danish Defence Command via AP

There is a pressing need to build naval capacity to protect underwater energy and communication pipelines and cables vital for Ireland’s national security, experts have said.

The warnings follow highly suspicious leaks — three of them at the same time — affecting key sub-sea gas pipelines running from Russia into Europe.