Ireland will be better defended by the time Dublin takes over the EU Presidency this summer, Helen McEntee has promised.
Ireland will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union from 1st July until 31st December, meaning large numbers of EU leaders will visit Dublin at various points.
Last year, during the visit of President Zelenskyy to Ireland, drones were detected in Irish airspace. A Garda review has been ordered and Taoiseach Micheál Martin has declined to comment on potential Russian involvement until it was completed.
The incident intensified speculation that the Government would ask larger EU countries for security assistance during high profile events.
On Newstalk Breakfast, Defence Minister Helen McEntee said Ireland would be better defended by the start of the EU Presidency.
“So, in terms of our increased spending, that is being directed and intensified in the development of new radar technology,” she said.
“So, I've brought forward the timelines to make sure that we can have a complete radar system quicker, but we're investing at the earlier stages.
“So, for example, with the Presidency coming up this year… we will have counter drone technology, which will be able to respond to not just issues that we've seen happen in Ireland airspace or Irish airspace, but right across the EU.”
Soldiers on a Sunday training excerise on the Curragh Plains in County Kildare. Picture by: Eamonn Farrell/RollingNews.ie.Minister McEntee admitted there is a “perception that Ireland is doing nothing” on defence among some, while noting that military spending has grown in recent years.
Last year, the Department of Defence was allocated a record €1.5 billion in funding, with a larger settlement expected next year as well.
“I've announced our new capital plan,” she said.
“This is a capital plan that's 55% higher or greater than the previous plan; that in itself, I hope, shows a very clear ambition that we're going to do more.
“We have a new strategic framework, which I brought to Government last week.
“This essentially sets out for the next year, what are we doing in a number of areas, whether it's in air, whether it's our naval services, as well as our Defence Forces on the ground.”
A navy ship sailing into Dublin. Picture by: Alamy.com.Despite this increase, Ireland still spends a lower proportion of its GDP than most European countries - roughly 0.25% the Republic’s GDP.
By contrast, NATO member states have agreed to increase defence spending to 5% by 2035.
However, Minister McEntee believes the disparity is not something that Ireland’s neighbours have a problem with.
“Can I respectfully say that most of the commentators who say others are annoyed at us are our own commentators,” she said.
“So, I am sitting around the table with defence ministers in Europe, I attended the security conference at the weekend where I met with NATO, where I met with countries like Canada, where I had engagements with member states who have vastly larger armies than us or vastly larger defence systems than us.
“And all of the commentary and the responses [were], ‘We want to work closely with Ireland’.”
Soldiers in the Defence Forces. Picture by: PA Archive/PA Images.Minister McEntee also promised that while the Government wants to work closely with other European countries on defence, Irish neutrality would remain a cornerstone of the country’s foreign policy.
“Any decision to further enhance or to intertwine or interlink countries' defence capabilities, it has to be agreed by unanimity [in the EU],” she explained.
“Of course, Ireland's position is not going to change; we are militarily neutral, it is a position that we hold dear.
“But at the same time, there are ways within the European treaties that we can work more closely together.”
Main image: A split of Helen McEntee and a drone. Pictures by: PA and Alamy.com.
