Ireland’s defensive capabilities were dragged into the firing line in Britain’s House of Lords last week – and with it came a common overinflation of the power of the presidency. During a session on national security, cross-bench peer Lord Jock Stirrup, once the UK army’s chief of defence staff, questioned Ireland’s ability to protect the critical subsea cables, carrying everything from internet traffic and financial transactions to offshore energy, that travel around or through its waters and exclusive economic zone. “My lords, Ireland is a crucial hub for undersea infrastructure crossing the Atlantic, but it lacks the capabilities to defend…

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