Over the past three months, #STANDEASY has explored the major defence and security challenges shaping Ireland's strategic environment through conversations with historians, academics, former senior military officers, former intelligence professionals, legal scholars and national security experts.

In this special Season 1 finale, Dr Ed Burke returns to the podcast to step back from the individual interviews and examine the recurring themes that emerged throughout the series.

Together, we discuss:

• the absence of a National Security Strategy
• neutrality: identity versus policy
• geography: from shield to liability
• who is responsible for national security
• capability gaps and strategic resilience
• operating in the grey zone
• whether Ireland will only act after a strategic shock

Rather than revisiting previous episodes, this discussion explores what these conversations collectively tell us about Ireland's changing security landscape, and where the State may need to adapt in the years ahead.

This episode concludes Season 1 of STANDEASY.

A sincere thank you to all of our guests for generously sharing their expertise throughout the season, and to you, our listeners, for your support, encouragement and engagement.

STANDEASY will return in October with a new season, new guests and more discussions exploring defence, security and Ireland's place in an increasingly complex world.

If you're new to STANDEASY, the complete Season 1 Threats Series is now available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

This episode forms part of STANDEASY's continuing Threats Series, examining the evolving security challenges facing Ireland, Europe, and the wider international environment.

In this episode, I am joined by Dr Matthew Powell from the RAF College Cranwell to explore how drones are transforming the character of modern warfare and redefining traditional concepts of air power.

The discussion begins by examining the psychological impact of drone warfare. While attention often focuses on their destructive capability, drones also create a persistent sense of uncertainty and fear for both military personnel and civilians operating under constant surveillance or threat of attack.

We then explore the lessons emerging from the war in Ukraine, where drones have evolved from supporting capabilities into central components of military operations. The conversation considers whether Ukraine represents a turning point in military history and what future conflicts may look like as drone technology continues to develop at remarkable speed.

The episode also examines how drones are changing traditional concepts of air power, enabling smaller states and even non-state actors to achieve military effects that previously required sophisticated air forces and significant financial investment.

Attention then turns to one of the defining challenges facing modern militaries: the growing imbalance between the relatively low cost of offensive drones and the often much higher cost of defending against them. We discuss what this means for future military capability, deterrence, and whether current approaches remain sustainable.

Finally, we consider what these developments mean for Ireland. Has drone technology fundamentally changed Ireland's security environment? Where should policymakers now focus their attention? And at what point does failing to develop credible counter-drone capability become a strategic vulnerability?

STANDEASY is Ireland's podcast exploring defence, security, and the State's place in the world.

This episode forms part of STANDEASY's continuing Threats Series, examining the evolving security challenges facing Ireland, Europe, and the wider international environment.

In this episode, I am joined by Ryan Ramsey, former Royal Navy Commander, Captain of the nuclear-powered attack submarine HMS Turbulent, and former head of the Royal Navy's renowned Submarine Command Course, "Perisher".

The discussion explores the growing strategic importance of the undersea domain and the re-emergence of submarine activity as a major security concern in the North Atlantic.

We begin by examining the current sub-surface threat environment, how Russian submarine capabilities have evolved in recent years, and why the North Atlantic remains a critical theatre for European and transatlantic security.

The conversation then turns to the importance of undersea infrastructure, including subsea communications cables, offshore energy systems, and the role they play in supporting modern economies and national resilience. We examine the specialist capabilities operated by Russia's Main Directorate for Deep-Sea Research (GUGI) and discuss the extent to which concerns surrounding seabed infrastructure are justified.

Ryan also explains why modern anti-submarine warfare is far more than individual ships or aircraft hunting submarines. Instead, it is a highly integrated system involving sensors, intelligence, platforms, data fusion, and multinational cooperation working together to create awareness of the undersea environment.

The discussion then focuses on Ireland's emerging undersea surveillance capability through the acquisition of the CAPTAS-1 towed array sonar system. We explore what practical capability this provides, how it compares to more advanced NATO systems, and what additional steps Ireland would need to take if it wishes to build a more credible anti-submarine warfare capability.

Finally, the episode addresses an increasingly important strategic question for Ireland and other European states: as dependence on undersea infrastructure grows and the North Atlantic becomes more contested, at what point does the decision not to invest in organic anti-submarine warfare capability become a strategic vulnerability?

STANDEASY is Ireland's podcast exploring defence, security, and the State's place in the world.

This episode forms part of STANDEASY's continuing Threats Series, examining the evolving challenges facing Ireland, Europe, and the wider international security environment.

In this episode, I am joined by Philip Ingram MBE, a former senior British Military Intelligence officer and NATO planner, to explore the role intelligence plays in modern national security and why it remains one of the most misunderstood functions of government.

The discussion begins by examining why intelligence services exist, how intelligence supports national decision making, and the process by which information is collected, analysed, and transformed into actionable insight. We explore the crucial relationship between intelligence collection and analysis, and why understanding information is often more important than simply gathering it.

The conversation then turns to the contemporary threat environment facing Europe, including state competition, cyber threats, foreign interference, espionage, and the increasingly complex challenges confronting intelligence agencies.

We also examine the evolving roles of Russia and China in strategic competition, how intelligence professionals assess these challenges, and the methods states use to project influence and gather advantage in the modern security environment.

Closer to home, the discussion considers Ireland's unique security landscape, including the challenges created by neutrality, geography, economic openness, and critical infrastructure. We explore how Ireland's intelligence and security capabilities compare with those of its European partners and the implications of an increasingly interconnected threat environment.

Finally, we examine how technology, data, and artificial intelligence are likely to reshape intelligence work over the coming decade, and what governments should be doing now to prepare for the future.

As threats become more complex and less visible, the conversation asks an important question: at what point does under-investing in intelligence and security stop being a policy choice and become a vulnerability that others actively exploit?

STANDEASY is Ireland's podcast exploring defence, security, and the State's place in the world.

This episode forms part of STANDEASY's continuing Threats Series, examining the evolving challenges facing Ireland, Europe, and the wider international security environment.

In this episode, I’m joined by Professor Andrew Mumford, Professor of War Studies at the University of Nottingham, to examine one of the most frequently discussed and often misunderstood concepts in contemporary security: hybrid warfare.

While many people associate conflict with conventional military force, today's security environment increasingly involves activities that operate below the threshold of war. Cyber attacks, disinformation campaigns, espionage, economic coercion, political interference, and attacks on critical infrastructure have become key features of the modern strategic landscape.

The discussion explores what hybrid warfare actually means, whether it represents a genuinely new form of conflict, and how hostile states seek to exploit vulnerabilities within democratic societies.

We examine why Europe was slow to recognise the scale of the challenge, why Ireland's geographic position, maritime domain, and strategic infrastructure make it relevant to wider European security debates, and the growing concerns surrounding foreign influence, espionage, and threats to critical national infrastructure.

The episode also considers what hybrid warfare means for Irish neutrality, national resilience, and the difficult policy choices governments face when responding to activities that exist in the grey zone between peace and conflict.

As geographical distance becomes less relevant and adversaries increasingly target societies rather than armies, the conversation asks whether traditional assumptions about security remain fit for purpose in an interconnected and contested world.

STANDEASY is Ireland's podcast exploring defence, security, and the State's place in the world.

In this episode of STANDEASY, I’m joined by Dr Robert McCabe, who leads the MARSEC research project at the National Maritime College of Ireland and Munster Technological University, to examine the growing importance of maritime security and the protection of critical undersea infrastructure.

While largely invisible to the public, subsea infrastructure underpins many aspects of modern life. From internet traffic and financial transactions to energy connectivity and international communications, these networks form part of the essential systems upon which states, economies, and societies increasingly depend.

The discussion explores why critical infrastructure at sea matters, the challenges associated with protecting privately owned systems that carry significant national consequences, and the evolving threat environment facing maritime and subsea infrastructure. We examine questions of vulnerability, resilience, responsibility, and preparedness in an era characterised by geopolitical competition, hybrid threats, and growing concern over the security of critical infrastructure.

The episode also considers Ireland’s strategic position on the Atlantic edge of Europe, the role of the National Maritime Security Strategy, the importance of cooperation with European partners, and how initiatives such as the MARSEC project are contributing to the development of maritime security research, policy, and capability.

As Ireland and Europe become increasingly dependent on interconnected digital and maritime networks, the discussion asks what steps are required to safeguard these invisible lifelines and whether states are moving quickly enough to meet the challenges emerging beneath the surface.

Quick bonus episode with Dr Ed Burke from UCD discussing the requirement for a fit for purpose Irish Security Vetting System in the wake of the reports in the media today (30 May) that an Irish Citizen has been arrested for allegedly leaking confidential government information to a foreign Intelligence Service.

In this first episode of our threat series , Tony Geraghty is joined by Brigadier General (Retd) Brian Cleary and Commandant (Retd) Ken Sheehan to examine the growing challenges of cyber security and cyber warfare in Ireland.

The discussion explores where cyber security ends and cyber warfare begins, whether Ireland currently has the capacity to defend itself effectively in cyberspace, and the risks created by relying heavily on privately owned infrastructure and global technology networks.

The episode also examines Ireland’s vulnerability as a hub for subsea cables, data centres, and international communications, along with the real-world impact cyber attacks could have on public services, infrastructure, and national resilience.

A timely discussion on one of the most important and rapidly evolving areas of modern national security.

In the final episode of this three-part series on neutrality in Ireland, I’m joined by Professor Andrew Cottey (UCC) and Dr Ed Burke (UCD) to examine what Irish neutrality means in the 21st century.

Moving from the historical foundations explored in previous episodes, this discussion focuses on the contemporary strategic, political, and legal debates surrounding Irish neutrality and military non-alignment.

We examine whether Ireland is legally neutral, how neutrality is understood across Irish political and public discourse, and the distinction between traditional neutrality, military non-alignment, peacekeeping, and the Triple Lock mechanism.

The episode also explores Ireland’s relationship with the European Union’s Common Security and Defence Policy, including PESCO and Article 42.7, and asks whether deeper European defence cooperation challenges traditional understandings of Irish neutrality.

A major focus of the discussion concerns Ireland’s growing security vulnerabilities, including maritime surveillance gaps, the protection of critical underwater infrastructure, airspace security, increased geopolitical tensions following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and questions surrounding Ireland’s reliance on partners for elements of national defence.

Professor Cottey and Dr Burke also examine how Irish neutrality has become deeply connected to national identity and political culture, while asking whether Ireland’s current position remains strategically coherent in an increasingly unstable international environment.

The episode concludes by exploring three possible futures for Irish neutrality:
• maintaining the current policy,
• reforming aspects of neutrality and defence policy,
• or moving towards a formal alliance structure in the future.

Rather than advocating a single position, the discussion seeks to unpack the competing interpretations, assumptions, and strategic realities shaping the debate on Irish neutrality today.

In the second episode of this three-part series on neutrality in Ireland, Dr Veronica Barry returns to examine the emergence and development of Irish neutrality in the years surrounding the Second World War.

Picking up from the aftermath of the First World War, we explore the foreign policy concerns of the early Irish Free State, the limitations imposed by dominion status, and the wider European context in which neutrality increasingly came to be viewed as a means of protecting small-state sovereignty.

A major focus of the episode is the role of Éamon de Valera in shaping Irish foreign policy during the 1930s, including the drafting of the 1937 Constitution, the removal of the British monarch from Irish constitutional affairs, and the decision not to formally enshrine neutrality within the Constitution itself.

The discussion then turns to the outbreak of the Second World War and Ireland’s declaration of neutrality in September 1939. Dr Barry examines the practical realities of Irish neutrality during the conflict, including the weakness of the Defence Forces, fears surrounding partition and internal instability, censorship, covert cooperation with Britain and the United States, and the challenge of maintaining sovereignty during a period of total war.

We also discuss how Ireland’s wartime experience differed from that of other neutral states, many of which suffered invasion and occupation, as well as the international criticism Ireland faced in the aftermath of the war.

The episode concludes by examining how the Second World War fundamentally altered the concept of neutrality itself and shaped Ireland’s understanding of neutrality for decades to come.