New National Maritime Security Strategy – Protecting Ireland’s Seas

On 25 February 2025, the Minister for Defence, Helen McEntee TD, published Ireland’s first National Maritime Security Strategy (“Strategy”). The Strategy is the first of two key documents designed to provide a roadmap for protecting Ireland’s maritime security interests and strengthening the State’s response to emerging risks in the maritime domain.

Maritime security has been identified as a key priority in Ireland’s recent defence and national security policy reviews. As an island nation that relies heavily on the sea for trade, energy, communications, and economic activity, Ireland’s maritime domain plays a critical role in supporting national stability and prosperity. This Strategy aims to protect the security of Ireland’s maritime domain while ensuring safe and secure seas for future development.

The National Maritime Security Strategy focuses on three main areas:

• Current risks and threats to Ireland’s national security and defence  
  
• Key issues and objectives to support increased maritime security over the next five years  
  
• Opportunities to strengthen collaboration with national and international partners to improve and protect Ireland’s maritime security  
  

The Strategy recognises that Ireland faces a changing and increasingly complex maritime security environment. These challenges include threats to critical infrastructure such as undersea communications cables, energy pipelines, as well as risks posed by geopolitical tensions, organised crime and cyber threats. 

Ireland’s dependence on undersea infrastructure is particularly significant. Submarine cables carry most of the global internet traffic and are essential for communications, financial systems, and business operations. Similarly, offshore energy infrastructure and gas pipelines are vital to Ireland’s electricity supply. Protecting these assets is therefore central to national security and economic resilience. 

Main Strategic Objectives 

The new Strategy identifies six strategic objectives to support its initial focus on national security and defence in Ireland. These include:

1. Defending the State’s maritime domain through strengthened naval, air, and surveillance capabilities.  
   
2. Protecting Ireland’s critical maritime infrastructure, particularly its critical undersea infrastructure.  
   
3. Enhancing Ireland’s maritime domain awareness through improved monitoring, intelligence sharing, and technological capability.  
   
4. Strengthening regional partnerships and increasing international cooperation with the EU, neighbouring states, and global partners.  
   
5. Ensuring legal order in Ireland’s maritime domain and supporting international law, including the enforcement of maritime regulations.  
   
6. Supporting education, training, research, and innovation to improve Ireland’s maritime security capabilities over time.  
   

The Strategy places strong emphasis on a “whole-of-government” approach, recognising that maritime security is not solely a defence issue. Multiple government departments, state agencies, and private sector organisations will work together to protect infrastructure, improve surveillance, and strengthen response mechanisms. Collaboration with international partners will also play a key role in addressing shared threats and maintaining maritime stability.

One of the interesting elements of the new Strategy is the express commitment by the Government to work with and co-ordinate with the private sector (in particular developers, owners and operators of critical infrastructure in the maritime domain including subsea cables and energy infrastructure) in relation to the protection and resilience of such infrastructure.  

The Strategy emphasis that achieving the above objectives will require “a comprehensive, multi – agency approach with clear roles and responsibilities and appropriate policy coordination”.  The focus will be on working towards an efficient and effective maritime security system developed by the “whole-of government.” 

The Defence Forces, especially the Naval Service and Air Corps, will have a central role in implementing the Strategy. Their responsibilities will include maritime surveillance, patrol operations, search and rescue, and support for law enforcement activities such as drug interdiction and border protection. 

According to the Government, Ireland’s maritime security framework will ensure that international and national law are enforced, freedom of navigation and innocent passage are guaranteed, and that people, infrastructure, transport systems, the environment, and marine resources are protected. This is considered an essential component in safeguarding Ireland’s national security.

Next Steps 

To ensure that the six strategic objectives are delivered, an Action Plan will be regularly updated through the Maritime Strategy Working Group. The Maritime Security Unit in the Department of Defence will issue annual reports detailing progress of the six objectives. The Action Plan is held to be a living document subject to change and regular updates. 

Conclusion

Overall, the National Maritime Security Strategy represents a significant step in strengthening Ireland’s ability to respond to current and emerging maritime threats. 

By enhancing cooperation, protecting critical infrastructure, and improving national capabilities, the Strategy aims to ensure that Ireland’s maritime domain remains secure, resilient, and capable of supporting the country’s economic and strategic interests into the future.

For further information on the new Strategy, or general legal advice on maritime and energy regulation and projects, please contact Fergal Ruane (Partner, Head of Projects and Infrastructure) in the Byrne Wallace Shields LLP Infrastructure, Construction and Energy Team.  Thanks to Trainee Solicitor Becky Ekema for her assistance in preparing this bulletin.