Some say recent suspected sabotage of transatlantic cables serving Europe and UK means Ireland must be able to defend itself

They are the bedrock of the internet, keeping everything from TikTok to emergency services, business, banking systems and political and military communications running smoothly.

But deep under the sea, the network of cables around British and Irish shores are being considered as increasingly attractive targets for military, terrorist or criminal actors after several incidents in the Baltics where internet cables were severed and internet communications were disrupted.

Social Democrats and Sinn Féin criticise inclusion of just three women in cabinet of new taoiseach Micheál Martin

The number of women in the Irish cabinet has fallen from four to three, dealing a further blow to the country’s reputation on gender equality in politics.

“There are now as many men named James in the cabinet as there are women,” the Social Democrat TD (MP) Jennifer Whitmore said, after the 15-member cabinet was announced by the new taoiseach (prime minister), Micheál Martin, on Thursday.

People warned to stay at home, avoid the coast and charge up devices as widespread damage and outages expected

Ireland is bracing for what has been described as one of the most dangerous storms ever seen, with the national weather centre warning of violent winds from 2am on Friday.

Emergency services were on high alert and the country was preparing for a virtual standstill on Friday, with airports, schools, parks and offices to close and public transport cancelled during the peak hours of Storm Éowyn.

Fianna Fáil leader officially elected as taoiseach a day after chaotic scenes in Dáil, as thoughts turn to future and Trump

Ireland’s newly appointed leader, Micheál Martin, has vowed to protect the country “at a moment of real threat” just days after Donald Trump threatened to wipe out its tax advantage and repatriate American jobs.

He was speaking moments after he was officially appointed as taoiseach, but 24 hours after chaotic scenes in the Dáil caused the cancellation of his formal appointment.

Martin’s formal appointment as taoiseach blocked after day of ‘utter disgrace’ in Irish parliament

Ireland’s incoming prime minister, Micheál Martin, has accused opponents of a “subversion of the Irish constitution” after formal election to the role was cancelled amid chaotic scenes in the Irish parliament.

The outgoing taoiseach, Martin’s coalition partner, Simon Harris, called Wednesday’s events in Dáil an “utter disgrace [with] so many pressing issues” facing the country, as a spiralling row over the speaking rights of independent TDs torpedoed the first day of Martin’s new term in office.