Micheál Martin: Irish defence spending will have to rise amid escalating security threats

Taoiseach Micheál Martin: 'It’s not that Europe wants a war — it doesn’t, obviously it doesn’t want a war — but there’s real fear in Europe about the Russian agenda.'  Picture: Gareth Chaney

Ireland will significantly increase defence spending in the coming years, the Taoiseach has said, warning that the nation is “blissfully unaware” of the increasing threat of escalation of war within Europe.

Micheál Martin told the Irish Examiner he will establish a new Oireachtas committee on security and defence as there is a “need to create debate” on Ireland’s role within Europe and our ability to protect ourselves from cyber, energy, and maritime security threats.

“Whether we like it or not, Ireland can’t stop countries who feel an existential threat from doing what they have to do to protect themselves,” he said.

“Some countries are spending 4% to 5% [of GDP], the Balkans in particular, on security and it’s a genuine fear. And I don’t think that genuine fear is appreciated in Ireland.”

This article is part of a series based on the Irish Examiner's interview with Micheál Martin. 

Mr Martin suggested that threats to Europe posed by Russia are not understood or “appreciated” here.

“There’s a real fear, particularly among the Baltics, Poland as well, and Finland, that if Ukraine falls, or if there’s peace, that merely means that Russia can pull back, replenish, and come again.

“That means Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, in particular, feel very much under pressure. Some of those countries are cutting back on public expenditure to spend on defence capabilities. They’re so fearful, and it’s existential.

“We need to understand that this is not these countries being warmongers, or anything like that, these countries are genuinely fearful because they’ve had history with Russia.”

Asked whether Ireland is now removed from very real discussions around defence that are happening in Europe, Mr Martin said the phrase “blissfully unaware” was an apt description.

“I had the same feeling last Monday at the meeting [of European leaders]. 

I was listening to country after country, and I was thinking; there’s no awareness in Ireland about this at all. It’s not that Europe wants a war — it doesn’t, obviously it doesn’t want a war — but there’s real fear in Europe about the Russian agenda.

Mr Martin said capital expenditure in defence would increase in the next two to three years and that this would include a primary radar system, which is currently in the tendering process.

He said cyber and maritime security, including subsea cables, are “two areas that there are huge vulnerabilities across Europe” and we have to “up our game on that” as well as strengthening the navy and military.

The Taoiseach said there is now a “need to create debate” through the new Oireachtas committee as “you don’t get issues like this interrogated deeply” in this country.

In his first sit-down interview as Taoiseach, Mr Martin also:

• Said he is “prepared to look fundamentally at everything again” on housing, including the abolition of rent pressure zones;
• Suggests Europe will have to buy more liquefied natural gas from the US to appease tariff threats from US president Donald Trump;
• Admits the Government “didn’t see it coming” and was blindsided by Michael Lowry’s regional group seeking opposition speaking time, which caused Dáil rows and delayed his nomination as Taoiseach;
• Will raise the important economic relationship between the US and Ireland, as well as Gaza, with US president Trump in the White House next month.

• Read the full interview in Saturday's 'Irish Examiner', online and in stores.