Member's statement: Royal Navy Vessels in Belfast

Member's statement by Mr David Brooks on 8 September 2026.

MLA

Mr David Brooks

Party at the time

Democratic Unionist Party

Date

8 September 2026

Type

Member's statement

Business

Members' Statements

Heading

Royal Navy Vessels in Belfast

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 5673752

Read the official Assembly record

Text

Today, I welcome the reassuring presence of Royal Navy vessels at the heart of Belfast, as I did with the Royal Air Force when it was in our skies last week. Sometimes, reality makes a rather more powerful argument than rhetoric ever could. There is something wonderfully ironic about that because, while some Irish republicans would have us believe that the mere sight of a Royal Navy ship is somehow an affront to Irish nationalism, the reality outside the Chamber is rather different. Only days ago, a Royal Navy frigate was deployed to help to protect the Republic of Ireland during its presidency of the Council of the European Union. Let us pause to consider the sheer absurdity of that, particularly the Irish nationalists and those among us who berate "Brexit Britain". The Irish Government are hosting Europe. Ireland wants to project itself as a sovereign, independent, militarily neutral state, yet, when it needs sophisticated air defence capability to protect European leaders and officials, to whom does it turn? It turns to the Royal Navy — the very Royal Navy that, apparently, some republicans still regard as an instrument of British oppression. The irony could hardly be greater. It is no surprise, then, that, rather than celebrate positive practical cooperation between neighbours, some republicans have been outraged by the presence of British military vessels. Apparently, the Union Jack on a warship is objectionable right up until the point at which Ireland needs the warship. There is an important lesson here: the modern world does not care very much about the old ideological obsessions of Irish republicanism. Russian activity around undersea infrastructure, drones, threats to shipping, hostile states and the vulnerability of our waters do not respect the border. Ireland is not reassured by her neutrality. That is precisely why the Royal Navy and the Irish Naval Service have been working together on maritime security. Indeed, earlier this year, I attended the UK and Ireland Maritime Security Conference, which was co-hosted by the Royal Navy, in Belfast. It addressed threats to critical undersea infrastructure in Irish waters. When Royal Navy vessels are sitting here, on the Lagan, it is no threat to neighbouring Ireland; the Royal Navy is a welcome and requested ally. It is a highly capable naval force whose personnel are prepared to protect these islands. Perhaps, republicans should reflect on the rather uncomfortable contradictions that they have created for themselves. They have spent decades telling people that the United Kingdom is the great imperialist enemy. That looks rather foolish when Ireland then asks for British military assets to help keep European leaders safe in Dublin. You cannot complain about British ships helping to protect Ireland's EU presidency while expecting everyone else to pretend that Britain and Ireland do not share the same waters, the same security challenges and, increasingly, the same strategic interests. We can remain trapped in the politics and prejudices of the past, or we can recognise the realities of the present. While some republicans may still regard that as an embarrassment, the people who actually have responsibility for Ireland's security —

— seem perfectly happy to have the Royal Navy standing watch.

527 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

Flagged Constitutional question, Brexit, the Windsor Framework and sovereignty

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 16:17 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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