Ireland faces 'new threats' due to transatlantic cables in Irish seas, says Tánaiste

Micheál Martin told  the inaugural “Subsea Cable Security and Resilience Symposium” at the historic Valentia Island Transatlantic Cable Station in Valentia, Co. Kerry, on Friday that 'the potential risk implications for Ireland are stark.' Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

Ireland faces “new and emerging threats” due to its underwater cables which are critical for global communications and commerce, Tánaiste Micheál Martin has said.

This infrastructure — on which the global economy now depends — has been suspected of being under the watch of Russian spies. Mr Martin said that as the majority of transatlantic data communications now run through Irish seas, the infrastructure has critical international importance.