UK Undersea Infrastructure: Hostile Activity Debate

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Department: Ministry of Defence

UK Undersea Infrastructure: Hostile Activity

Lord Weir of Ballyholme Excerpts
Tuesday 25th April 2023

(1 year, 6 months ago)

Lords Chamber
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Baroness Goldie Portrait Baroness Goldie (Con)
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We view that activity with great gravity. As I said earlier, we are aware of that activity and we constantly monitor it, but I am unable to disclose further information.

Lord Weir of Ballyholme Portrait Lord Weir of Ballyholme (DUP)
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What specific co-operation is happening with the Republic of Ireland, which is not a NATO member? There is speculation that the Taoiseach was asked today about concerns that Russian naval exercises off the south-west coast of Ireland are being used as a pretext for the Russians to investigate underground cabling in the Atlantic.

Baroness Goldie Portrait Baroness Goldie (Con)
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That would be a matter for the Irish Government to assess and to determine their response to. This gets into an area of policy wider than that covered by the MoD; it would be a matter for discussion between the FCDO and its Irish counterparts.