Ireland will pay nothing for UK defence guarantees amid security fears - MLA calls for an end to 'pandering' to Dublin
Dublin does not have to pay any money to London as a result of the recent defence and security deal between the UK and Ireland, the News Letter understands.
The Ministry of Defence has declined to comment on the matter since the agreement was signed last month, but says the deal “will boost cooperation on areas critical to both our nations’ security”.
The UK government believes that there is potential in the deal for future sales of defence equipment to Ireland. However, a UUP MLA says it is well known in defence circles that the Irish are “entering into an exclusive defence sales agreement with France”.
Both sides said the defence and security deal covers “enhanced maritime cooperation, cyber defence, air domain information sharing, and increased joint procurement”.
It comes as the UK government said Russian submarines conducted a covert operation over cables and pipelines in waters north of the UK.
Concerns about the safety of such infrastructure in Irish waters are believed to have been a major factor in its security deal with London.
Ireland’s naval fleet currently consists of eight vessels, with the Royal Navy operating over 60 ships in its surface fleet, and nine submarines.
Steve Aiken MLA, a former nuclear submarine commander in the Royal Navy, has questioned why the government is continuing “to pander to the Irish” given its legal action against the UK on the legacy of the Troubles. He has also questioned the wisdom of the deal, given rumours in defence circles that Ireland is hoping to secure an exclusive defence sales agreement with its EU partner France.
The South Antrim MLA told the News Letter: “The cost to the United Kingdom taxpayer for the provision of even planning for the defence of Irish Sea, subsea, air and cyberspace is substantial enough. The staffing effort of military planners who have the skillsets to manage the complex amalgam of water and air space management to NATO standards, will be close to €1 million alone.
“Providing any form of combat air patrol, which must include two Typhoon jets, a back-up airtanker, plus aircraft and RAF personnel brought up in support will be several million pounds - per hour. Dealing with suspicious air or drone activity in Ireland’s airspace could take several hours, with our RAF not been available to support our actual allies in NATO and beyond at the same time.
“All this while Ireland continues its freeloading on defence, expecting the UK to pick up the tab, whilst taking the UK to court over legacy issues. The question must be, why do we continue to pander to the Irish government when everyone knows in defence circles that the Irish are entering into an exclusive defence sales agreement with France.
“The French will be much more hardnosed about a nation that has spend less than 0.5% of GDP on its security, whilst milking billions of corporation tax receipts with a tax haven status. While Irish government politicians and civil servants remain clueless about defence and security, the French sales team aren’t. Remember, France may sell you a Rafale Fighter for €1, but the spare parts will cost you millions.
“We should adopt the French approach, either stop taking us to court, or Ireland should be invoiced for every pound spent defending them. Whether the Secretary of State or Northern Ireland Office would support that, as it would definitely upset their Department of Foreign Affairs chums, is another matter. But the Ministry of Defence should make it happen”.