Ireland drawing up contingencies for energy, cyber security after Ukraine invasion

Government departments are finalising contingency plans following the invasion of Ukraine by Russia in an attempt to prepare for possible energy supply issues and cyber attacks and to assist people seeking sanctuary in the State.

Financial institutions and payment networks have been advised to “batten down the hatches” amid concerns that they could be targeted on the back of EU sanctions being introduced in response to the military action.

Officials from various departments met on Thursday to assess the potential impact of the conflict on the economy, businesses, agriculture and other sectors.

The Department of Business is monitoring the impact of sanctions on companies exporting to Russia and Ukraine and those operating in sectors regarded as particularly exposed to the conflict.

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The department is also discussing the implications of the ongoing conflict for Russian companies based in Ireland. It is expected to publish a notice for exporters and importers impacted by the sanctions shortly.

On the issue of energy, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the imposition of sanctions by the EU on Russia would come with a cost for Ireland, with damage to the economy, increased energy costs and pressure on energy supplies feared.

It is understood that officials have discussed what to do with the State’s strategic oil reserves given the problems that pressure on supplies could cause in areas heavily reliant on fossil fuels such as transport.

A substantial reserve is held by the National Oil Reserves Agency, with sources saying there are stocks to cover 90 days of demand. Gas supply issues are not expected as “very little” is imported from Russia. A quarter of the gas used in Ireland is sourced from the Corrib gas field with a vast majority of the remainder coming from the UK.

There are, however, concerns around Ireland’s reliance on Russian coal, which is used at Moneypoint power station in Co Clare. The ESB buys fuel for the plant on international markets, on which Russian coal is prominent, and sourcing options are understood to be under review.

Minister of State Ossian Smyth said a focus was being placed on the increased scope for cyber-attacks as Russia hits back at the West.

“Financial institutions could be targeted and particularly payment networks because the sanctions are likely to be in some part financial,” he said.

“We have been contacting financial institutions and saying to them it is your chance to batten down the hatches. We have sent them checklists to go through and make sure they are not the person with the open door or the weakest link or the person who gets targeted. My focus at the moment is a cyber-attack.”

The Government is assessing the capacity of the Irish Embassy in Kyiv to respond to the crisis as the help it can offer affected citizens may be limited due to the upshot of the invasion. The Department of Foreign Affairs said Ukrainian airspace has been closed and that access to overland routes out of the country will likely be severely disrupted.

“The current number of registered Irish citizens in Ukraine is 70,” it said. “The department is also remaining in direct contact with the families who have a surrogacy arrangement in Ukraine.”

Ireland is to waive visa requirements for all Ukrainians who travel to the State following the invasion. Mr Martin confirmed the move, saying Ireland “will not be found wanting” in providing humanitarian support to the Ukrainian people.

A spokesman for Minister for Children Roderic O’Gorman said the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) has identified Ukrainian residents in the system and “will provide appropriate support as required”.

“He and his officials are monitoring the situation closely and will liaise with his Cabinet and EU colleagues as appropriate in order to ensure an effective EU-wide humanitarian response to this crisis,” he said.

The Government is looking at ways to assist farmers facing increased fertiliser costs with Russian imports understood account for 22 per cent of the total brought into the State. A source said it will be a “challenge” to locate alternative supplies but that the issue is being actively examined.

Ireland also exports around €60 million worth of food products to Russia including dairy products, beverages, fruit, sugar and coffee.