Unionists probe government on Ireland defence deal - as ministers dodge questions on whether Dublin is paying UK
Labour ministers have dodged questions from unionist politicians in Westminster over whether the Republic of Ireland has paid the UK for defence and security guarantees London gave Dublin in a recent deal between the two countries.
At the weekend, the News Letter reported that our understanding was that no money has changed hands.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has declined to comment, but said the deal “will boost cooperation on areas critical to both our nations’ security”.
The issue has now been raised in both houses of parliament, but government ministers have declined to comment on the matter.
Last week the government said that 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 the UK-Ireland deal.
Ireland’s naval fleet currently consists of eight vessels, with the Royal Navy operating over 60 ships in its surface fleet, and nine submarines.
In the House of Commons this week, TUV leader Jim Allister questioned MoD minister Alistair Cairns about why only five Royal Navy personnel based are in Northern Ireland.
“Last month, there was a memorandum of understanding between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland on providing sea and naval cover for the entire British Isles. That is particularly important to the Republic, given that its cyber-economy relies on those cables. It has been reported in the press that that cover is being provided free of charge to the Republic of Ireland. Is that correct? Surely not,” the North Antrim MP asked.
Mr Cairns said Northern Ireland’s “essential role in our transatlantic relationship, and in the security of our great isle, is not lost on me – nor indeed is the essential role that Northern Ireland played in World War Two”.
He said he would write back to Mr Allister “with the details on the numbers in Northern Ireland” – and said any diplomatic deals with other countries “usually involve bilateral benefits”.
The UK government believes that there is potential in the deal for future sales of defence equipment to Ireland.
In the House of Lords on Tuesday, Baroness Arlene Foster commended the work of the armed forces in the seas surrounding the UK and Ireland and asked MoD minister Lord Coaker if the Irish government are “contributing to the cost to our Royal Navy”.
The Labour minister did not comment on whether Ireland is paying for British defence support, but said the deal with Dublin “focused on enhancing maritime cooperation, cyber defence, air domain information sharing and increased joint procurement”.
He said the deal will “help not only Ireland to meet some of the challenges and threats that it perceives itself facing now… but also ensures that we deal, as far as we can, working with Ireland, to deter the threats that we also face from that part of the Atlantic as well”.
At the weekend, UUP MLA Steve Aiken, a former nuclear submarine commander in the Royal Navy, 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.