Ireland Joins Global Partners To Strengthen Maritime Security
- Published on: 11 March 2026
- Last updated on: 11 March 2026
Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan, has announced that Ireland has endorsed the New York Joint Statement on the Security and Resilience of Undersea Cables, first proposed by the US, and already endorsed by the EU, the UK, France, Germany, Portugal and a range of international partners.
The New York Statement sets out clear proposals on working individually and collaboratively to ensure the continued and improved resilience and security of our subsea communication cables infrastructure.
The principles outlined in the Statement align with the work being conducted by both this Department and the Department of Defence to progress the resilience and security of subsea communication cables.
Minister O’Donovan, said:
“Ireland recognises the criticality of subsea communication to the functioning of our modern society and our position as a world-leading digital hub. Through my Department’s ongoing work with European Union colleagues to advance the Cable Security Action Plan, and in our collaborations with UK colleagues to advance cable resilience matters, we are demonstrating our commitment to the principles espoused in this Statement.”
The Statement’s principles also align with the objectives of Ireland’s National Maritime Security Strategy which was recently published by the Department of Defence. The Department of Culture, Communications and Sport supports that Strategy’s aims to increase the protection of Ireland’s critical undersea infrastructure.
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence, Helen McEntee, said:
“Strengthening regional and international cooperation, along with safeguarding undersea cables, are central to Ireland’s new national maritime security strategy, which I had the privilege of launching last month. The immediate focus is on implementation and action and this announcement signifies that.
“By aligning with these New York principles, we are reinforcing a modern and coordinated approach to security.”
