Ireland has a responsibility to itself to consider what more we can do to address these mounting international challenges. The question of how we should work to guarantee our own national security is one obvious and urgent example. Between the cow and the bull, we – extraordinarily – have never had a serious public discussion about our own security. A serious national reflection about global developments would leave us better positioned to contribute significantly to wider international debate. The obvious starting point for Ireland to get more serious about understanding and asserting our international interests is by deepening our engagement with, and contribution to, shaping the EU’s prosperity, security and influence.

Source: The Irish Times March 18, 2026 19:42 UTC