New law would permit Irish Defence Forces board vessels 200 nautical miles from coast

Army Ranger Wing personnel boarding the MV Matthew in July 2025 when they seized 2.2 tonnes of cocaine worth €157m. The new legislation would permit such boardings up to 200 (370km) from the coast. Picture: Irish Air Corps/PA

Proposed new powers will permit the Defence Forces to board suspect vessels as far out as 200 nautical miles from the coast.

The provisions, which the Government hope to have enacted before the summer, will not just apply within Ireland’s territorial waters — 12 nautical miles from the coast — but also within Irish-controlled waters, known as the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).