Fintan Buckley, CEO of smart satellite company Ubotica, gives his take on how the deep-tech sector can boost defence without compromising Irish neutrality.
Ireland’s military neutrality is a cornerstone of our national identity. It’s a legacy rooted in diplomacy, independence and a steadfast commitment to peace. But neutrality must not be mistaken for passivity, nor should it imply an unwillingness to invest in protection of our critical infrastructure.
Last week’s announcement that Ireland will join the EU’s new €150bn defence fund, known as the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) initiative, marks a significant moment.
Presented by Tánaiste Simon Harris as a practical step towards streamlining procurement of arms and defence systems, it has understandably sparked further debate about the meaning and future of Irish neutrality.
This fund is Europe’s response to a changed world. Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and growing uncertainty over the reliability of American military support have triggered a rearmament across the EU. NATO members now pledge to spend up to 5pc of GDP on defence – a dramatic increase from the 2pc target that only 23 out of 32 members met last year.
In this new geopolitical context, Ireland’s defence spending of €1.35bn in 2025, or about 0.2pc of GDP, appears inadequate. More than ever, Ireland must reconcile its principled neutrality with the need to protect its sovereignty and infrastructure.
Ireland’s position on neutrality does not need to change, but we need to develop a compatible policy of proactive resilience, one that recognises the complex, technology-driven threats facing Europe.
Protecting subsea infrastructure
A clear example is subsea infrastructure. Approximately 75pc of all undersea cables in the northern hemisphere run through or near Irish waters.
These cables are the arteries of global communication and finance. Yet our capacity to monitor and protect them is extremely limited. Our naval fleet is overstretched, tasked with securing a maritime zone many times the size of our landmass.
The sporadic observations of Russian ships near these cables is a wake-up call. The threat of sabotage is not theoretical, it’s real. Ireland needs to think decisively about this issue, and where homegrown innovation can contribute.
We have a vibrant, domestic deep-tech sector, with companies working in artificial intelligence (AI), sensor systems, satellite imaging, autonomous platforms and more – all capable of transforming our maritime situational awareness. But without a clear government policy on dual-use technology and national security innovation, these companies operate in a vacuum, cut off from meaningful contribution to national and European security.
Other EU countries, meanwhile, are moving decisively on this issue. Poland has invested €85m in building a satellite constellation with the European Space Agency. France, Italy, Portugal and Greece are expanding their own surveillance capabilities, recognising that space-based infrastructure is now essential to defence.
Persistent, wide-area surveillance enabled by satellites would allow Ireland to detect suspicious activity in its waters long before it becomes a threat. That intelligence could secure the seabed infrastructure, support law enforcement, disrupt narcotics trafficking, deter illegal fishing and enable real-time response to environmental risks.
Ireland’s recent €60m purchase of sonar equipment is a step in the right direction, but that alone is not a strategy. What’s missing is the overarching policy framework to integrate innovation into our national defence strategy.
Defence innovation unit
A dedicated defence innovation unit within Government could fill this gap. Modelled on Ireland’s engagement with the European Space Agency, it would coordinate with domestic deep-tech companies, shape forward-looking policy, unlock EU funding and ensure Ireland’s contributions align with broader European objectives.
Crucially, it would help Ireland participate in a modern European security architecture while upholding the principles of transparency, civilian oversight and neutrality.
Such a unit would create a channel for innovation-led, non-offensive contributions to Europe’s collective security. It would also give investors and researchers the clarity they need to work on dual-use applications without fear of regulatory backlash.
The tools of 21st-century defence are data, autonomy, communications infrastructure and real-time intelligence. Ireland’s neutrality should reflect this shift to a modern, values-driven neutrality that protects our sovereignty through responsible innovation.
Ireland can be neutral and secure. It can lead in defence innovation without abandoning its principles. We have the talent. We have the technology. What’s needed now is political will.
Fintan Buckley, CEO of Ubotica Technologies, has more than 35 years of experience in senior technical, VP and managerial roles across the software and hardware sectors. He previously served as VP of engineering at Scenario Inc, a US-based tech design and construction firm, and he was the senior engineering director at Trintech Technologies.
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