Minister addresses Valentia Island Subsea Cable Security and Resilience Symposium
-
From: Department of Defence
- Published on: 23 April 2026
- Last updated on: 23 April 2026
Minister for Defence, Helen McEntee TD, addresses Valentia Island Subsea Cable Security and Resilience Symposium.
The Minister for Defence, Helen McEntee TD addressed the Valentia Island Subsea Cable Security and Resilience Symposium.
This event brings together industry, government, military and academia to discuss the security and resilience of critical undersea infrastructure.
“The new National Maritime Security Strategy I launched in February sets out, for the first time, a whole-of-government approach to protect the security of our maritime domain. My vision for the strategy is that it will support the protection of a secure and sovereign Ireland, where our people and interests are protected, and where our European and international partners can rely on us to uphold the rule of law in the maritime domain”.
Minister for Defence, Helen McEntee TD
“My new approach to maritime security includes the private sector, who are the owners and operators of much of this critical undersea infrastructure. Ireland is a hub for major companies who depend on robust and reliable international connections to operate effectively. Bringing together key stakeholders from diverse sectors and having the opportunity to talk directly to industry about these vital issues supports our own national security and resilience as well as the security and resilience of Europe as a whole.”
Minister for Defence, Helen McEntee TD
The Valentia Island Symposium is being organised by a steering committee of academics and industry with experience in this area, with the Valentia Transatlantic Cable Foundation agreeing to host and operate the event. The location of Valentia Island builds on the historic precedence of Ireland in this area with the first transatlantic cable laid from Valentia Island to Newfoundland in 1858.
the Department of Defence has provided sponsorship to support the symposium with a grant of €15,000 given to the symposium’s organisers.
The Minister’s keynote address can be found here
For more information about the symposium click here