Ireland's first National Maritime Security Strategy has been launched, aimed at safeguarding Irish waters and deepening naval co-operation with France and the UK.
The new plan also includes the roll out of military radar and sonobuoy programmes. New naval bases on the east and west coasts are also under active consideration.
Former TD and Army Ranger Cathal Berry told Behind the Story that while the plan is a welcome one, he is not sure what will be delivered.
"We've never had a maritime security strategy in Ireland before, which tells its own story," he said.
"It’s long overdue and it’s a welcome development … but the next question is the implementation and the payment of it."
Funding
Mr Berry said funding the strategy is a major issue.
"I don’t think it’s going to happen at all, actually," he said.
"The strategy has aspiration, I think it makes perfect sense, but the resourcing of that strategy is the key issue.
"From a funding perspective … you need about €3.4 billion to implement that five-year plan, and currently there’s only half that, €1.7bn, on the table.
"There’s no indication where that shortfall is going to be made up."
Mr Berry said Ireland could lean into long-term European Union loans for defence and security, known as SAFE.
"That mechanism is there, it’s never been used before," he said.
"Simon Harris said he’s open to the idea, but I think we need to move beyond being open to an idea now and actually latch on to that funding," Mr Berry added.
France and UK 'begging bowl’
Mr Berry said plans that could see French and British navies provide support in Irish waters does not sit well with him.
"It’s being dressed up as though it’s some kind of a partnership … but the reality is it’s not a genuine partnership at all," he said.
"It’s a complete dependency and we’re bringing very little to that ‘partnership’.
"What we’re doing is going with a begging bowl again to our neighbours in the UK and our EU neighbours in France.
"We did actually have this capability ourselves even up to 10 years ago," he said.
Mr Berry said one positive aspect of the strategy is that "it is being transparent and the public are being informed about it".
"In the past it was almost like governments of the day would pretend it wasn’t happening because of the national humiliation factor," he said.
Correspondent Brian O’Donovan also joined Fran and Paul to discuss reports that payments company Stripe, founded by Irish brothers Patrick and John Collison, is considering buying PayPal.
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