Ireland's cable reliance on UK poses 'security risks', experts warn

Earlier this month, Taoiseach Micheál Martin reiterated his concerns over threats to critical infrastructure such as cables and gas connectors. Ireland's first maritime security strategy is due on Wednesday.

Ireland’s dependence on Britain for digital and electricity connectivity poses “significant operational and security risks”, a European Commission expert group has warned.

The Expert Group on Secure and Resilient Submarine Cable Infrastructures said this dependence reduces Ireland’s ability to withstanding breaches be they deliberate or accidental.

Earlier this month, Taoiseach Micheál Martin reiterated his concerns over threats to critical infrastructure such as cables and gas connectors. Ireland's first maritime security strategy is due on Wednesday.

The expert group said: “Amid rising geopolitical tensions, submarine cables connecting Europe have suffered multiple incidents in recent years (although the nature of these events, whether accidental or intentional, is not always easy to determine).

“These incidents have raised awareness across Europe and beyond regarding the criticality and vulnerability of submarine cables carrying data or electricity.” 

The group's tasks include: Mapping the cable infrastructure across European waters and beyond; conducting threat assessments; and suggesting new strategic cable projects of European interest (CPEIs) that could be built to improve the EU’s resistance.

Island EU member state

It said the North Atlantic is a priority cable project, adding: “Ireland, as an island EU member state, is heavily reliant on submarine cables to maintain international connectivity. At present, there are 14 operational cables landing in Ireland that collectively form the backbone of its external communications infrastructure."

Of these, four are transatlantic cables providing direct links to North America. A further eight cables connect exclusively to Britain, creating a “significant dependency” on the UK for connectivity to mainland Europe.

“This is considered a cable project of European interest priority area because Ireland’s current connectivity situation creates a critical single-point dependency that poses significant operational and security risks,” the report said.

The concentration of routes through the UK limits resilience and exposes Ireland to potential disruptions that could affect the wider EU network

It said projects such as the Pisces submarine cable that connects Ireland to France, Portugal, and Spain, and which is expected to be operational in 2027/2028, along with the Celtic Interconnector that connects Ireland to France and which is expected to be operational by 2027, will improve Ireland’s connectivity to mainland Europe.

“However, these projects do not fully eliminate Ireland’s strategic dependency on UK-linked routes or provide the adequate level of redundancy required for long-term resilience,” it said.

In a statement, the Department of Communications said it welcomed the report which the department was a participant in producing.

“The cable security toolbox outlined in the report addresses several strategic and technical preventive measures for private industry, member states, the commission, and others to advance,” it said.

“The department supports these recommendations, and has begun to progress actions within its policy remit.” 

It said the priority cable routes identified in the report align with the department’s priorities.

• Cormac O'Keeffe is the Security Correspondent with the Irish Examiner.