Any damage to the 'cables' could disrupt financial markets across Europe and America. Ireland, a country for which military neutrality is a symbol of its modern identity, is merely a bystander in the field of maritime security, and worse, it risks becoming an international burden, according to experts, as it is unable to protect critical infrastructure in its territorial waters, despite having become wealthy by hosting global technology and trade. The situation was exacerbated by the sighting of the Russian spy ship 'Yantar' off the coast of Scotland last week, where it was targeted by Royal Air Force laser systems and was believed to be heading towards Irish waters. The 'Yantar' vessel is under the supervision of Russia's secret directorate for underwater research, and is designed to map and monitor submarine cables. Ireland is an island nation that did not have a navy until 1946, and had no ships by 1969. It now suffers from a severe resource shortage to the extent that only four of its eight ships are in service. Due to its lack of security infrastructure, it is also isolated from those who might seek to assist it. Friendly NATO member states cannot alert it to any potential threat, such as the arrival of a Russian vessel, because Ireland lacks the necessary intelligence systems to receive classified information, according to three European naval officers who spoke to the 'Financial Times'. These vulnerabilities will become apparent next year. Catherine Martin was elected president two weeks ago and explicitly opposes increased militarization. Ireland will hold the rotating presidency of the European Union for six months starting in July and will host a broader meeting of European and NATO countries known as the 'European Political Community'. Former commander of the Irish Army's special operations and former legislator Cathal Berry said: 'We have big tech companies, big pharma companies, huge amounts of data here in Ireland, which makes us a high-value target.' He added: 'We are members of the EU but not of NATO. If you want to pressure the EU or strike it without fear of NATO retaliation, Ireland is the starting point.' A key factor. Ireland's location on the western edge of Europe has always been a pivotal factor in global communications. The first 'transatlantic telegraph cable' connected Ireland's Valentia Island to Canada's Newfoundland in 1858. Today, about three-quarters of submarine cables in the Northern Hemisphere pass through the country's vast territorial waters, which are more than 10 times the size of its land mass. Any damage to the 'cables' could disrupt financial markets across Europe and the United States, and any internet outage would affect homes, hospitals, banks, and businesses. Ireland also relies on undersea pipelines for most of its energy, and an attack on this infrastructure could lead to power outages across most of the country. Yet, Ireland has no radar or monitoring systems. 'No protection'. Former Irish naval commander Caimhín Ó Frádhraigh, who spent nearly three decades in the armed forces, said the country's ability to protect the 'cables' is virtually non-existent, adding: 'We have no maritime inspection capabilities beyond our diving section, which relies heavily on the human element, so its capabilities are limited in terms of depth.' As a former European security official put it: 'Ireland is unprotected. It's true, it's terrifying'.
