Claims of alien "hotspots" have prompted calls for the Department of Defence to monitor Irish skies for UFOs.
Astronomer Eamonn Ansbro, who has researched extraterrestrial activity for three decades, said the Government needs to take the issue seriously.
He said UFO sightings are "more prevalent" in West Cork, south Kerry, Lough Key in Co Roscommon and the north west adding: "Dublin is also quite active."
Dr Ansbro, who operates from the Kinsland Observatory in Boyle, Co Roscommon, claims he’s recorded dozens of alien craft sightings and the State has knowledge of UFOs.
He said: "It’s beyond time we started openly discussing this and taking it seriously. People who see UAPs [Unidentified Alien Phenomena] feel they have nowhere to go.
"The Department of Defence should have an area to deal with this. People should be able to ring them up and report sightings."
Dr Ansbro said there’s a "reluctance" from the Government to deal with the issue because they know this is "a phenomenon not on their radar".
Dr Ansbro said the State’s attitude in sidelining the issue is in stark contrast to the US which is sharing data on UFOs with the public.
Earlier this week, US Senator Marco Rubio said government officials had "first hand knowledge" of crashed UFOs from whistleblowers.
Last month, US Congressman James Comer announced an investigation into allegations a leading military group had a fully intact alien craft.
Sinn Fein ’s John Brady expressed frustration that the State is not investigating sightings here. The Wicklow TD said: "Due to the reports in America, it seems obvious there was evidence to show something is clearly happening in our skies.
"There’s a lack of information here. We don’t have the ability to monitor what aircraft are in the sky, whether it’s military aircraft, from friendly countries, or not.
"And we don’t have primary radar to monitor that. I’m surprised we don’t have capabilities beyond this. It shows the weaknesses and vulnerabilities with regards our own capabilities for monitoring UFOs and anything else that may be in the sky. We need to take sightings more seriously."
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