Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has warned that Ireland is facing hybrid security threats and the State must ensure critical infrastructure like electricity grids cannot be attacked.
The Fine Gael leader also said that Ireland will have to give “deep consideration” to joining NATO or EU-led missions to enhance the protection of undersea cables.
He made the comments at a meeting of the European Political Community (EPC) in Moldova. During the course of the meeting, 47 heads of state discussed security issues.
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In advance of the meeting, Mr Varadkar was asked if Ireland was at risk of hybrid security threats. He noted that the HSE fell victim to a cyberattack and steps must be taken to ensure critical infrastructure is kept safe.
“Traditionally, when we thought about security concerns, you would think about one country invading another,” he explained.
“I don't think that's the kind of threat that Ireland faces.
“But we live In a different world now and security threats are hybrid. We've already had a cyber attack on our health service, for example.
“We need to make sure that nobody's in a position to take down the IT systems around our critical infrastructure, like, for example, our electricity grids.
“There is a risk of international terrorism, which isn't new, but not something that we should make the mistake of thinking that Ireland is immune to. Then there are also threats, for example, such as industrial espionage and attacks on infrastructure in our seas.
“None of these things are new. But I think it's fair to say that because of the instability in the world at the moment, the risk of us being a victim of an attack or collateral damage in an attack is higher than it would have been 10 or 20 years ago.
“We need to be realistic about that.”
Concerns have been raised in the past about Ireland’s ability to protect undersea cables off the west coast of Cork.
Mr Varadkar said that Ireland is “interested” in the EU’s Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) initiative to beef up security on critical infrastructure.
However, the Taoiseach insisted that no decision has been made to join either PESCO or NATO Partnership for Peace Programmes on this matter.
He continued: “We will certainly consider that. We’ll give it deep consideration.
“We are an island nation, our seas are seven times greater than our land area. Going through those seas are a lot of really important infrastructure, communications cables that connect Ireland to the world and Europe to North America.
“And also, for example, our gas interconnector with the UK and our electricity and connectors with both the UK and the new one with France.
“I don't think we can protect these on our own.”
The Taoiseach has repeatedly said that Ireland will not join NATO following concerns from the opposition over news that the Government is considering removing the triple lock mechanism.
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