The cyberattack on the global medical technology company Stryker — which employs thousands of people in Cork, Limerick, and Belfast — is a reminder that modern conflict no longer respects geography. The country has built a successful economy by embedding itself deeply in global supply chains — particularly in pharmaceuticals, technology, and medical devices. Companies such as Stryker have made Ireland a centre of advanced manufacturing and innovation, sustaining thousands of highly-skilled jobs across the country. A cyberattack launched on the far side of the world can halt operations in Cork or Limerick within minutes. The escalating global energy crisis — driven by conflict in the Middle East and the resulting volatility in oil markets — has laid bare the weakness in Ireland’s energy system: Dependence on imported fossil fuels.

Source: Irish Examiner March 13, 2026 06:19 UTC