The head of the Department of Defence's maritime security unit has confirmed that discussions have been held with the UK over Ireland’s involvement in a North Atlantic naval alliance.
The UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) is a 10-nation alliance, which also comprises of Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden.
While Ireland is not looking to join the group itself, it is exploring certain aspects of the partnership, including potential participation in a wider "JEF-Plus" group.
JEF is a defence partnership that is focused on rapid response, deterrence, and regional security across Northern Europe. It is not part of NATO, but all members are NATO countries.
JEF Plus refers to an extended version of JEF, and Ireland is exploring a potential observer role within this grouping.
Dr Margaret Stanley heads the maritime security unit, which was set up at the Department of Defence in late 2024, and was tasked with examining ways to address maritime threats and risks to Ireland.
This included the publication of Ireland’s first ever maritime security strategy, launched by Minister for Defence Helen McEntee earlier this year.
Speaking at a panel discussion on the protection of undersea cables, hosted by the Institute of International and European Affairs in Dublin this afternoon, Dr Stanley said there was a lot for Ireland’s naval service to gain from potential involvement with the JEF-Plus concept.
She said: "We’re not looking to join JEF itself, but there is a JEF-Plus mechanism where a non-member can see to avail of certain aspects of this partnership, and to look at what those opportunities might look like.
"I can see potential for sharing best practice, involvement in exercises, gaining direct knowledge of the kinds of work they are doing.
"So I think there is a lot for our naval service to gain from potentially finding a way of involving ourselves in the JEF-plus concept."
Dr Stanley said initial discussions have been held with the UK about this idea, and she hoped the conversation would continue in order to see what concrete elements could evolve from it.
"But we do think it’s a very positive way of understanding better the regional maritime security situation and involving ourselves in practical cooperation measures."
Dr Stanley said agreements convened with the UK and France has allowed Ireland to have an opportunity for greater focus on maritime security, and provides a path towards identifying further opportunities.
"We all share the same corner of the North Atlantic, so the (undersea security) cables that go through our waters go through their’s as well.
"So it makes sense to cooperate because I think their security ends up being our security in a way.
"So we need to figure out ways to enhance this cooperation while of course recognising our own military neutrality and respecting that as well," she said.
Earlier, Minister McEntee confirmed that Ireland had signed an acquisition order with France which will see the delivery of long-range military radars under the country's military radar programme.
The order will see delivery of five deployable Thales long-range radar systems, commencing next year.
Ms McEntee said it was "a significant milestone" in terms of delivery of the radar programme.
The first long-range radar systems are expected to be delivered next year, with the full capability in place by the end of 2028.
Ms McEntee has previously said the new equipment will significantly strengthen Ireland's ability to protect its skies.
The Commission on the Defence Forces identified the development of a primary radar capability as an immediate priority to ensure Ireland can maintain a complete 'Recognised Air Picture’.
The Department of Defence said that strong progress has also been made in developing the Defence Forces’ ground-based air defence capability, including the accelerated delivery of Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) ahead of Ireland’s EU Presidency
