Ireland to consider joining EU/Nato-led mission to protect undersea cable

The Taoiseach said he was limited in what he could say in terms of national security

"As a small country, five million people, no matter how much we spend on our Defence Forces, our Navy, we wouldn't be able to do this on our own,” Leo Varadkar said.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said the Government will give “deep consideration” to joining any EU or NATO-led mission to strengthen the protection of undersea cables in the light of suspicions over Russian mapping of the seabed off the Irish coast.

Mr Varadkar was speaking at the European Political Community summit of 46 continental leaders in Moldova on Thursday.