'Ireland needs fresh strategy to protect its extensive maritime area' 

Micheál Martin speaking last October at the inaugural Subsea Cable Security and Resilience Symposium at Valentia Island Transatlantic Cable Station in Kerry. The new report is based on presentations by a wide range of experts at the symposium. File picture: Valerie O'Sullivan

Ireland needs to have proper strategies and capabilities in place to protect its maritime area because of its sheer size — seven times its landmass — and the growing commercial activity in it, according to a report.

It said government officials in affected countries such as Ireland “need to understand the potential cascading effects” of ruptures to subsea cables on their critical national infrastructure.