National Security
Dail Éireann — 2025-12-16
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Helen McEntee (FG), Meath East

I have confidence in our ability to defend ourselves and those who travel to this country. However, we all appreciate that there is more we need to do. We are no different from any other country in that regard.
There are, of course, standard operating procedures, SOPs, different rules of engagement and different laws depending on whether an incident occurs on sea, air or land. It is for those who are trained and who are operating on the ground to respond and make sure they comply with the different standard operating procedures.
At all times, whether it was the Naval Service or those responding, those involved in this incident operated within the SOPs. However, as there should be with any incident like this, a review is taking place and the Garda is working closely with the Defence Forces on that. If there are operating procedures that need to be enhanced, improved or changed and if better structures need to be put in place, that certainly should be done. I reiterate that there was not a closing of airspace and no significant issue arose.
Of course we need to be very serious about any type of threat and any types of drones in our airspace or within the vicinity of our vessels. This is something we are taking extremely seriously. It is why we are prioritising within the €1.7 billion budget the development of new radar capabilities and the expansion of our sonar, air fleet and ground fleet.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2025-12-16/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:28+00:00
Sitting date: 2025-12-16