Since as mentioned its clogging up a couple of threads and taking them off topic, perhaps a thread for this and any reactions to it.
Here's some of hte current comments from Ministers and opposition reps:
https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/government-not-happy-with-russian-live-drills-off-irish-coast-1247287.html
Good to see y'all here again!
I think someone should tell Ivana Bacik that nobody gives a flying shyte what she has said about Russia, over the years.
The adults are talking now.
(From the other thread)
Yeah I do think so. When youre trying to gather intelligence and you don't know what your mark may do, you need all the exits covered, so to speak.
And its not just intelligence gathering, its a bit of harassment needed too.
Anyway, whatever the Russians say about 6 surface ships, they'll have more over the horizon for an exercise like this and any number of their 15 or so attack submarines that operate in the Arctic and North Atlantic.
That's a lot of real estate to be covered.
Given the numerous combined exercises that are happening, they may not have that many spare, not if at the same time they are taking on Ukraine in the Black Sea:
I'd guess a couple of Frigates and a few MPA/ELINT birds, maybe a SSN.
Well it's not schoolyard antics anymore. Maybe NATO will have to cancel some leave and postpone some paint-jobs for a while.
If the Russians really are planning to put well over half their (seaworthy) naval force to sea, in a coordinated distraction, just at the time of a potential land invasion of a sovereign State, it'll have to be met head on.
The russians cant afford a war. and they are too weak to win one, NATO will maul russia in the Ukraine if they attack, Russia doesnt want that NATO smoke its all sabre rattling.
NATO already has, like I posted in one of the other threads, the US/French/Italians are already planning a major deployment for the same period in the Eastern Med. That's 3 carriers plus escorts, meanwhile there's going to be a Russian exercise in the Pacific as well, along with most likely the Baltic and Black Sea. And realistically there's only so many hulls available.
All goes to show I guess, you should never rely on anyone else for the defence of your own State and areas of interest and responsibility.
Yep, but then we've been doing it since 1922...
Wonder if the Russian Ambassador will contain his laughs until after Coveney hangs up?
Meanwhile with the comments out Mary Lou, does this mean next budget will SF support significant increases in the defence budget an what won't get the money instead?
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/ireland-raises-concerns-with-russia-over-planned-naval-exercises-1.4783844
I think Cathal Berry made a good point, this could potentially damage the under sea cabling
Given it's reported to be in the same area where the NS encountered one of their spy ships designed for such work last year (or was it the year before), if the Russians are going to push into Ukraine it couldn't be ruled out I would think.
Absolutely. Take a look at this cable maps. This location is very far from random, in fact its smack bang over the most critical UK/US links
They could be trying to overload the IUSS in that area with detonations too
So this looks like it could be about UK / US, i was wondering why they were being provocative against little old Ireland.
Our naval capability relative to our large sea area stands out like a sore thumb.
It also doesn't take the FSB to know how short staffed the naval service is as well.
It's for another forum but I have been surprised at how the EU hasn't encouraged Ireland to invest in the naval service for drug trafficking and people smuggling, nevermind scenarios like this.
Isn't there also an issue with regards to radar capability here ?
The Skibbereen Eagle had their eye on Moscow...
We are currently using the services of a Greek registered Fishery Patrol vessel to police the seas around our south coast which has Irish Fishery Officers aboard.
https://afloat.ie/port-news/fishing/item/53280-british-gillnetter-which-starred-in-tv-series-detained-off-irish-coast
https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/home/shipid:312928/zoom:8
Why does it matter where its registered, its a ship of the EFCA, which is an EU agency and we're in it. It matters about as much as the Head Office being in Spain.
Must scare the shyte out of rogue fishermen all the same, when they hear Aegis is after them and assume its a guided missile destroyer bearing down.
Lol. What adults is that? The ones behind anonymous avatars on a low traffic discussion Board?
Ha ha!
In fairness with nearly 19000 posts your doing your best to improve the traffic levels
That last line has undergone an interesting twist in the last few days.
No you flute, the Government, the Diplomats, the EU and NATO.
With the opt out we got in Lisbon, there’s nothing the EU can do directly with our level of defence spending.
Our lack of radar is separate to this issue.
I taught i read somewhere the SFPA are on strike?
Not fully, but there is an active industrial dispute affecting operations.
A bit of a howler for the Chief of Staff to be allowed to be photographed grinning with the Ruskies given the current conditions.
No problem with him meeting them, I just think he should have politely declined a photo.
But they promised... 😉
Can we stop talking about this irrelevant courtesy meeting with the CoS. Its been established that the meeting took place before the Russian military notification of the exercises to the IAA.
In any event, this is purely a political and diplomatic matter. Why? Because its becoming an actual military matter between Ireland and Russia is inconceivable.
