103. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Defence if all protocols were followed during the incident involving five drones endeavouring to intercept the plane carrying President Zelenskyy recently; if a C70 form was completed to ensure a Garda-Defence Forces co-ordinated response; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72042/25]

Sentiment score: 0.16

I wish the Minister well in her new role. It has probably never been so important. I listened intently to the Minister's answers on the incident involving five drones endeavouring to intercept the plane of President Zelenskyy recently. Was a C70 form was completed to ensure there was a Garda-Defence Forces co-ordinated response? Were all protocols followed in the context of that incident?

Sentiment score: 0.26

I certainly welcome the increase in the radar capability. It is very important. I appreciate that the Minister cannot give every detail and has to be cautious in what she says but people want to know. They want reassurance that we are resilient enough and that our reliance is holding up and being improved all the time. One of the questions that has been asked of me a lot is on what protocol is in place when there is drone activity in our airspace. Are airlines notified? What happens when such incidents occur? I very much appreciate and welcome the fact that President Zelenskyy had a safe landing and take-off, and was safe while he was here. That tells us certain things but we need to know whether other incidents could have happened and whether all the protocols were followed in that incident. Will the Minister tell us what the protocol is in relation to drone activity?

Sentiment score: 0.31

I reiterate that we need to have some transparency. That is why I asked that the remit of the defence and national security committee be revisited. Transparency and accountability are very important. I welcome the investment the Minister announced last week, which is badly needed to address the neglect there has been of our Defence Forces, but there must be oversight of how it is spent and accountability for it. People need to know we are resilient as a State. That is necessary not just for the public but also in terms of our competitiveness and the assurances we can give to foreign direct investors in this country. They need to be assured right across the board in terms of our cybersecurity and security generally. Those issues have gone way up the scale in terms of things that are important to multinational businesses and also to our indigenous businesses.

Sentiment score: 0.22