The Minister for Defence, Helen McEntee TD, today (Friday, 24 July) welcomed the signing into law of new powers for members of the Defence Forces to safeguard Ireland’s maritime domain and protect the State’s sovereign rights in its territorial sea and exclusive economic zone.

“Following my launch of Ireland’s first National Maritime Security Strategy in February, one of my key priorities has been to ensure the Defence Forces have the powers they need to respond to emerging threats in our waters, particularly from vessels linked to the Russian ‘Shadow Fleet’.

“Today marks an important step in addressing threats in our maritime domain and comes at critical juncture given our Presidency of the EU and our responsibility to the defence and security of Europe.

“Ireland’s maritime domain is of critical strategic importance. Major undersea cables that carry huge volumes of global internet and financial data pass through our waters, while gas pipelines, electricity interconnectors and planned offshore renewable energy infrastructure are also located in our maritime area.

“Recent events in the Baltic Sea and the activities of Russia’s Shadow Fleet have highlighted the importance of ensuring that we have the legal framework necessary to respond to evolving threats.

“I want to thank my colleague the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration for his help in facilitating this important legislation”.

The new powers are set out within the Criminal Law, Civil Law and Defence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2026. This Act amended the Defence Act 1954 to formally assign to the Defence Forces specific functions in safeguarding and protecting the State’s rights in the territorial sea and exclusive economic zone.

The legislation also strengthens the legal framework relating to the protection of military installations, ensuring that the Defence Forces authority to protect these sites where necessary is grounded in primary legislation.

Maritime security was identified as a key priority reflecting Ireland’s geographic position, evolving security threats and our responsibility to contribute to European security.

The Minister published Irelands first National Maritime Security Strategy in February, which sets out a whole-of-government approach to protecting the State’s maritime domain and critical infrastructure, in cooperation with international partners and the private sector. The focus is now firmly on implementing the strategy’s action plan. The development of this new legislation is an example of the outworkings of this new strategy.

The Criminal Law, Civil Law and Defence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2026 will be published on the Statute Book website in the coming days.