Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
LAST UPDATE | 20 Jun 2022
A MAJOR FRENCH military exercise due to take place off the south-west coast later this month has been brought forward to 2am tomorrow morning.
The Department of Transport has issued an updated marine notice to vessels operating in Ireland’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) this afternoon.
The exercise is now scheduled to take place from 21 June to 24 June and 27 June from 2am to 4pm each day.
However, the notice says the exercise may be postponed, taking place at the same time on another date between 27 June to 7 July, excluding weekends.
Warnings had been issued on Friday by the Department of Transport after they were informed by the Irish Aviation Authority of the exercises.
The warning said that the French authorities advised it would be a large-scale missile and rocket firing operation.
The French Embassy in Ireland said in a statement that it is “in ongoing contact with the Irish authorities in relation to a military exercise planned later this week taking place in an area of the Atlantic Ocean off the French coast.”
“As indicated to the Irish authorities via the standard procedures, the area affected may potentially include a small piece of the southern extremity of Ireland’s EEZ as a security pattern, approximatively 200km southwest of Ireland territorial waters,” it said.
“No French Navy vessels will be in the Irish EEZ during this exercise.
“As a close EU partner, France will maintain close contact with the Irish authorities throughout the period of the military exercise.”
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney, issued a similar statement earlier, in which he said the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) was informed of the exercises via standard procedures and the Department of Transport has issued a Marine Notice to this effect.
“As a close EU partner, the Department of Foreign Affairs will, as normal, maintain contact with the French authorities throughout the period of the military exercise,” he said.
Irish fishermen who were planning on disrupting the exercise later this month have issued a fresh call on the Irish and French government to intervene to stop the exercises.
In a statement, the fishermen of the Irish South and West Fish Producers Organisation said they were notified by the Department of Transport at 10.53am that the exercises had been brought forward.
“In late January 2022, our West Cork fishermen were successful in having planned Russian Naval exercises relocated outside of the Irish EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone) by agreement reached with the Russian Government and we are now urgently calling on the Irish and French Governments to provide a similar outcome to our Fishermens’ concerns,” the statement said.
A source with expertise in the area said it was believed the French decision was influenced by the weather more than other considerations – as poorer conditions are expected this weekend.
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Foreign Affairs and Defence John Brady has expressed concern regarding the planned French naval exercises.
“For the second time in six months, we have a situation where a foreign naval service is scheduled to undertake naval exercises in the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone, with the same group of Irish fishers indicating their intent to take to the area to protest at the threat that the naval exercises pose to their livelihood.”
“It is no secret that the Irish fishing industry feels betrayed by an indifferent government that has failed to properly represent their interests in Europe.”
He added that 2 billion of fish caught in Irish waters is not landed in Ireland and that “this state does not possess the means to carry out any meaningful type of inspection of trawlers fishing in Irish waters illegally”.
Speaking to The Journal, Patrick Murphy, CEO of the Irish South and West Fish Producers Organisation said that he wanted to see Coveney engage with French authorities to stop the exercises taking place.
Murphy said that Coveney had previously told Russia - who had planned similar exercises in Irelands EEZ in January - that he couldn’t stop the exercises, but that they weren’t welcome.
However, Coveney had written a letter to his Russian counterpart seeking to have the exercise moved.
“I would think him to do what he did the last time,” said Murphy, saying that he hopes Coveney has a letter written to his French counterpart and asked that he disclose any engagement with the French government.
Due to the exercises, the Department of Transport has warned vessels operating in the Irish EEZ about the military operation.
“The exercises will be undertaken in part of the Irish EEZ. Given the nature of the planned exercises, vessels and crew are advised of safety risks in the operational area,” said a notice from the Department.
Murphy said that he wants to see a moratorium placed on military exercises, saying that they should not take place in Ireland’s EEZ for the next 10 years.
“We’re screaming for a moratorium for this craziness to stop… We said 10 years, so no more military exercises inside Ireland’s EEZ,” said Murphy.
Speaking on Morning Ireland, Murphy said that the current climate makes military exercises of this nature inappropriate, due to the ongoing war in Ukraine.
“In the climate that we are in now, this doesn’t seem to be appropriate. We have a war as was reported in programs on the continent and we don’t need these military sizes to ramp up any tensions.”
He added that any exercises would have an impact on the fishing industry itself, potentially with consequences lasting down the line for several years due to fish spawning being disrupted.
“This doesn’t just affect you on the three days, this could affect your for decades to come because if it interferes with the spawning cycle, and if the fish don’t spawn, then you have no recruitment into the stocks.”
This means that the amount of fish that could be caught would be reduced, potentially for long periods of time according to Murphy.
Additional reporting by Jane Moore and Niall O’Connor
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
We all share the oceans, these fishermen have to learn to play nice with our allies.
@Crocodylus Pontifex: Codswallop
@Crocodylus Pontifex: So the needless destruction of sea life and the potential damage to our fishing industry is justified so we can keep in with our allies?… Last time I looked at a map France had a coast line that stretches west beyond the horizon too. If they feel the need to destroy sea life, they can do it on their patch.
@Paul Linehan: yes, yes it’s is
@Paul Linehan: they have been destroying the oceans long before ..now …remember when they blew up the Greenpeace boat Ted …that was gas.
@Crocodylus Pontifex: Nonsense, the French will only see us as their allies when we are part of their military alliance. Perhaps thats why we are reading these headlines a lot of late. This is all part of the great softening up of the Irish public, to change our neutrality policy.
The oceans are big enough for the French to play their war games – but not in Irish waters. Coveney better get he act together and drop the double standards the tell his EU partners to stick to French waters and away from Irelands.
@Crocodylus Pontifex: we do not all share the oceans – we have by international agreements areas know as territorial waters and also economic zones and fishing zones – all set up to avoid conflict over operations and resources. So please try and get even basic facts correct as failure to do so undermines everything that follows
@Angela McCarthy: “The great softening up” – Did you just give birth to a new conspiracy theory or is this already trending?
@Crocodylus Pontifex: why can’t the French do it un there waters.
@JusticeForJoe: Well Joe, unless you have been asleep for the last while, you would have heard much talk, particularly under the cloak of the invasion of Ukraine that Ireland cannot stand alone and neutral in to the future, by various government FFG spokes persons.
Yes, from where Im viewing things – first the Russians and now the French wanting to play war in our waters? It all plays well for those who have become very vocal about dropping our military neutrality as the scaremongering steps up a gear. Yes “the great softening up”.
As for a conspiracy theory Joe? perhaps its not happening at all, and I just dreamt it all and the French and Russians are just dropping in to give us food parcels. And perhaps our wise political leaders of FFG who have recently questioned our current military neutrality, are not really serious but are merely fine-tuning policy issues for the next general election, after which they will be forgotten about again.
@Paul Linehan: I made a map showing where the exercise is located:
https://i.imgur.com/O8Mr0zw.png
It’s also in the UK, France and Spain’s EEZ.
@Crocodylus Pontifex: Have France not theo own Waywrs to test in
@Crocodylus Pontifex: its alright the French have environmentally friendly ordnance and Ships unlike those really bad Russians……
@Paul Linehan: They are doing it in their patch.
@Crocodylus Pontifex: Do you honestly think for one second that the French government would allow Ireland to do the same thing off the French coast? ( or any other countries for that matter)
@Owen O’Murchú: No it’s not specially when we the taxpayer’s are been taxed to the hilt in order to try to improve the planet, it all seems such a waste of time & money when our so called governments are hell bent on distroying it!
@Crocodylus Pontifex: funny how the evil Russians negotiated without fishermen but European buddies blunderbus their way in uninvited. There a reason the Irish for French and Rat is the same
That is a great action by the fishermen……No military exercises…no excuses. I assume Mr Coveny will carry out the same objection as to the Russian Federation exercises.
While he’s at it he might do something about the French trawlers fishing in Irish waters
Believe me when WW3 happens we will need France a lot more than they will need us
@Robert Johnson Fagan: if you ask me history always repeat it’s self and the younger generation dont see it happening
@Robert Johnson Fagan: Why would we need them?.
@Roy Dowling: Because they are one of Europe’s largest military powers. Might be a good time for us be a bit more cooperative given what’s going on in the world right now
@Roy Dowling: if you need to ask there is not too much hope for you
@Robert Johnson Fagan: I think France and Ireland need fish to eat sooner than ww3. Missiles are no use if can’t put food on the table
@Simon: Most of the common fish stocks are on dangerously low levels an also have high levels of mercury and other chemicals in them these days. It’s not a healthy food anymore and nobody NEEDS fish for food.
@Robert Johnson Fagan: they will need somewhere to retreat to.
@Robert Johnson Fagan: So you don’t know why we’d need them?. Because let’s be honest were under no threat of being invaded. Anyone who believes we are need to have a rethink
@Robert Johnson Fagan: let’s be honest John. For Russia to get here with enough of an army to take and hold this country they need their navy. Half of which is in the black sea no threat to us. Other half is thousands of miles away. If WW3 starts by the time they mobilise Thier fleet and enough soldiers, tanks, APC, artillery etc and set sail NATO would have mobilised a massive fleet in the UK and Iceland and set up patrol to search for russian ships and planes. Now do you really think NATO forces will let the Russians through so they can take Ireland and have a flank NATO forces?. And you do think Russia will ignore all the NATO countries on main land Europe who’s armies are geared up to and ready to fight them so they can invade Ireland. Do you really think we’re that important?
@Roy Dowling: So should we just join NATO?
@Tom Leddy: Why? To fight Thier fight. you all seem to think NATO would be protecting us but they are not. They are protecting their flank. Last thing they need is russian ships in the Atlantic. NATO’s fleet will be around iceland and Norway both NATO member states and both have NATO bases. To place their fleet anywhere else doesn’t make sense because Russia has to come from their as there fleet in the black sea ain’t getting out of their. So for Russia to even attempt to get to us it has to get through the US Atlantic fleet, the Royal navy and every other NATO member ship in the area. You seriously think they’ll let Russia out into the Atlantic past 2 NATO member states?
@Tom Leddy: You’ll be wearing the green down at Ballyporeen,
The town of the little potato.
Put your arms around Garret and dangle your carrot,
But you’ll never get me to join NATO .
@Roy Dowling: I didn’t offer an opinion on joining NATO, I simply asked you for your opinion and you went off on a rant as usual.
@G Row.: I actually live very close to Ballyporeen. It’s a fine village in fairness.
@Robert Johnson Fagan: when WW111 happens, there will be nobody around to need anything from anyone.
@lelookcoco: They were the largest military power in Europe at the outset of WW2, but one of the first to surrender.
@Robert Johnson Fagan: why would be even involved it just another great reason to stop a European army.
Ffs, the exercise is taking place in Frances territory, they have simply said that due to the nature of the weapons used they could land in the Irish waters. It’s not like they are sailing into the Irish waters to do this like the Russians planned.
What is good for the goose is good for the gander! Is that expression still used and understand? The reasons for requesting the move out of the Irish economic zone is the same regardless of the nations or alliances involved
Are you talking about the French needlessly destroying sea life or the fishermen? Who put absolutely nothing back into the ocean and needlessly and indiscriminately destroy many species of fish other than what they fishing for.
Don’t rock the boat with the big boys in the EU. Big jobs promised.
Might be nothing to do with fishing and more about protection of undersea cables from a reported sabotage threat ?
No more French Fries for me, I’ll be having chips from here on out. The Russians were far more obliging than these lads.
Dublin Bay prawns instead of West Cork prawns so.
@Garreth Byrne: Mais non! Des langoustines
We send in the best
If the “Tsar Bomba” was dropped in Dublin people in Roscommon would get 3rd degree burns from the fallout. That’s the problem with Putins arsenal.
@François Pignon: the Tsar Bomba is in a museum.
There are two of them. The other one is pretty much to heavy to get airborne at speed. So essentially the lumbering flight to drop it would be taken out before it got to the drop zone.
have your say