Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

File image of an area on the Cork coast. Shutterstock/Corey Macri

Minister of State 'deeply concerned' about marine impacts of Russian military exercises

Malcolm Noonan said he has written to the Foreign Affairs Minister and the Russian Ambassador to Ireland to express his concerns.

THE MINISTER OF State for Heritage said he is “deeply concerned” about the potential impacts for marine wildlife caused by Russian military exercises planned around 240km off the Irish coast. 

Malcolm Noonan said he has written to the Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney and the Russian Ambassador to Ireland Yury Filatov to express these concerns. 

The Journal reported on Saturday that the Irish government had received a warning of a major exercise by the Russian navy and air force in the Atlantic off the south west coast planned for the first week of February.

Minister Noonan said underwater sounds such as active military sonar “can have devastating consequences for cetaceans including some of our rarest marine mammal species, notably the deep-diving and rarely-seen Blue whale, Sperm whale and beaked whales”.

“It can cause significant disruption to their hearing systems and normal behaviour, and may lead to permanent or even lethal injury,” he said in a statement. 

The Russian Ambassador to Ireland yesterday downplayed concerns about the planned missile tests in international waters off the Irish coast. 

Yury Filatov said it is a “non-story” and that there are “no grounds for concern” for Ireland in relation to the exercises. 

“It’s a small exercise actually – maybe three or four ships, not more. There is nothing really to be disturbed, concerned or anguished about and I have extensively explained that to our Irish colleagues,” he said. 

Simon Coveney said the military exercises are “not welcome” but that Ireland does not have the power to stop them as they are held in international waters. 

“This isn’t a time to increase military activity and tension in the context of what’s happening with and in Ukraine at the moment. And so I think it’s important that I would brief my colleagues on those intentions,” the minister said yesterday.

Fishermen at the South & West Fish Producers Organisation based in Cork said they are planning a “peaceful protest” to try and disrupt the military exercises. 

CEO of the organisation Patrick Murphy said the group is also concerned about any potential disruptions and damage to marine life. 

Murphy said fishermen are discussing a plan to fish in an area near the proposed area of the military exercises when they are taking place.

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
17 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dermot Hickey
    Favourite Dermot Hickey
    Report
    Jan 8th 2012, 8:02 PM

    Why oh why did they picture cork? It just gives all them corkonians another reason to call cork the real capital lol!

    85
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave
    Favourite Dave
    Report
    Jan 8th 2012, 8:28 PM

    How? It’s obviously merely a shadow of Dublin! :-)

    60
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paraic Simpson
    Favourite Paraic Simpson
    Report
    Jan 8th 2012, 10:45 PM

    They kept the best til last…lol

    39
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alan Larkin
    Favourite Alan Larkin
    Report
    Jan 9th 2012, 12:04 AM

    Even if it IS upside down! Or is that, Inside out?

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Faceless Man
    Favourite Faceless Man
    Report
    Jan 8th 2012, 7:10 PM

    Anyone else see their gaff?

    57
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute foggy_lad
    Favourite foggy_lad
    Report
    Jan 9th 2012, 2:49 AM

    Isn’t el paso in mexico?

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kieran Murphy
    Favourite Kieran Murphy
    Report
    Jan 8th 2012, 8:11 PM

    I wonder why Tokyo is all white light while every other city is yellow?

    46
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Emsy wemsy
    Favourite Emsy wemsy
    Report
    Jan 9th 2012, 10:05 AM

    Ha that’s what I was thinking

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Edmundo Lee
    Favourite Edmundo Lee
    Report
    Apr 1st 2013, 2:15 AM

    Tokyo’s greenish tint can be attributed to its streetlights. More here > Cities at Night: The View from Space http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/CitiesAtNight/

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Oliver Walker
    Favourite Oliver Walker
    Report
    Jan 8th 2012, 8:31 PM

    Yay u added Cork boy…But sure why wouldn’t Cork have a picture with the story,Up the rebels

    43
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave
    Favourite Dave
    Report
    Jan 8th 2012, 8:36 PM

    Ha! Rebels! Your funny! :-)

    50
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul carew
    Favourite Paul carew
    Report
    Jan 8th 2012, 10:41 PM

    You don’t have to be in space to see that the ESB are smiling :):):)!!!!!!!!!!!!

    36
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul carew
    Favourite Paul carew
    Report
    Jan 8th 2012, 10:46 PM

    Is that the infrared picture of cork people talking shite again

    31
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Éilish Ní Bhroin
    Favourite Éilish Ní Bhroin
    Report
    Jan 8th 2012, 8:46 PM

    Such a pity to see all that energy being wasted by sending it into space.

    28
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Oaklane1
    Favourite Oaklane1
    Report
    Jan 8th 2012, 9:12 PM

    What a pity all that energy was wasted on such a ridiculous post.

    72
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Conor Farrell
    Favourite Conor Farrell
    Report
    Jan 9th 2012, 2:13 AM

    Éilish, you’re absolutely right, despite all the ‘thumb-downs’. Pretty much every astronomer you meet will have a word to say about the bad design of street lights in our town, cities, and roads.

    The only reason we can see cities from space is because streetlights have their light partially directed upwards. Considering streetlights are meant to light the paths and roads beneath them, the upward lighting means that people are paying for electricity that is not being used.

    When these lights are placed near rivers and streams they can affect the local ecologies: water plants and animals think it’s daytime all the time, and their life cycles and reproductive cycles become severely affected.

    Bad lighting like this is also the reason why people in Ireland’s larger towns and cities cannot see the night sky, apart from a couple of bright planets or stars. Drive 15 minutes outside any city in Ireland and you’ll be able to see the Milky Way, thanks to the lack of up-directed lighting.

    Yes, these photographs are absolutely stunning and beautiful, but they’re also a reminder to us astronomers of what’s going wrong.

    26
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Éilish Ní Bhroin
    Favourite Éilish Ní Bhroin
    Report
    Jan 9th 2012, 8:56 AM

    How is it ridiculous? My point is essentially what Conor said above. Sure it looks spectular, but at what cost. There’s a far more amazing view to be seen when you switch off the lights and look up.

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute will butler
    Favourite will butler
    Report
    Jan 9th 2012, 12:34 AM

    I think the the pictures of Dublin, Cork & london England are the most beautiful, they kinda look like galaxies, which is sort of ironic!! the American cities are too ordered, the lights show the “blocks” and the streets.

    27
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute limofax
    Favourite limofax
    Report
    Jan 8th 2012, 7:08 PM

    Picture of Chicago is upside down.

    27
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Réada Quinn
    Favourite Réada Quinn
    Report
    Jan 8th 2012, 7:37 PM

    Ireland’s face down. :-(

    52
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Declan Carroll
    Favourite Declan Carroll
    Report
    Jan 8th 2012, 7:47 PM

    A spectacular pic all the same -

    51
    See 7 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Réada Quinn
    Favourite Réada Quinn
    Report
    Jan 8th 2012, 8:10 PM

    She’s a beauty alright Declan.

    Will her sons and daughters put her right though. Or have I been reading too much Yates poetry again?

    47
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kevin Rourke
    Favourite Kevin Rourke
    Report
    Jan 8th 2012, 8:25 PM

    There is no such thing as upside down in space limofax :)

    61
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Lawrence McKenna
    Favourite Lawrence McKenna
    Report
    Jan 8th 2012, 8:36 PM

    There is no right side up in space

    38
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jay funk
    Favourite Jay funk
    Report
    Jan 8th 2012, 9:33 PM

    Limofax in overhead photos or maps there is no right side up or upside down, it’s just one persons perspective , good example ask a southsider and a nothsider (of Dublin) to draw a map and they will draw them with their side of the city on the bottom of the page liffey horz in the middle and otherside of the city at the top This will happen about 70% of people some will do the opposite and others have Liffey vert

    25
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Réada Quinn
    Favourite Réada Quinn
    Report
    Jan 8th 2012, 9:40 PM

    Oh gawd guys. Ye’re taking this very seriously. I’m sure he meant it as a joke. God love him thinking there’s any Messers on this site…

    36
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute limofax
    Favourite limofax
    Report
    Jan 8th 2012, 9:56 PM

    Sorry, I meant to say Chicago was inside out!

    36
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Shane Brehony
    Favourite Shane Brehony
    Report
    Jan 9th 2012, 7:43 AM

    Who cares if it’s upside down it just stated a picture of Chicago it didn’t say which way it was

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Eoin Ó Nialláin
    Favourite Eoin Ó Nialláin
    Report
    Jan 8th 2012, 7:14 PM

    Been in 6 of the 10 and yes, it sheds a completely new light of most of them. Next stop Tokyo!

    23
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Nyssa Taylor
    Favourite Nyssa Taylor
    Report
    Jan 8th 2012, 11:23 PM

    Look at the pictures, Dublin looks like. Butterfly or a moth, Chicago looks like a spider web and one of the others looks like a strong muscled monster.

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paraic Simpson
    Favourite Paraic Simpson
    Report
    Jan 8th 2012, 11:48 PM

    butterfly or moth? don’t you mean shithole?

    23
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Joe McDermott
    Favourite Joe McDermott
    Report
    Jan 9th 2012, 12:38 AM

    Paraic your mixed up man, the one shaped like a turd is Cork… BOY!!

    33
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Leo McCabe
    Favourite Leo McCabe
    Report
    Jan 9th 2012, 7:56 AM

    @cork people…. See the single bright light to the north of Dublin city? That’s Croke Park. 500000ft is the closest you’ll be to that for a while I’d say! ;)

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Lawrence McKenna
    Favourite Lawrence McKenna
    Report
    Jan 8th 2012, 8:39 PM

    Sorry Kevin. U got there first

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Charles Mark
    Favourite Charles Mark
    Report
    Jan 8th 2012, 11:14 PM

    Boring article.Have we not all been in planes?

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Joe McDermott
    Favourite Joe McDermott
    Report
    Jan 9th 2012, 12:34 AM

    What planes have you been in that take you 500000 ft above the earth? Nob.

    48
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kevin Smyth
    Favourite Kevin Smyth
    Report
    Jan 9th 2012, 3:29 AM

    Charles is a ‘Space Cadet’.

    8
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Charles Mark
    Favourite Charles Mark
    Report
    Jan 10th 2012, 12:31 AM

    Next time I’ll take my binoculars and look through the wrong end. No doubt I’ll be awe-inspired.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jingles
    Favourite Jingles
    Report
    Jan 8th 2012, 10:15 PM

    Next stop Las Vegas!

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave
    Favourite Dave
    Report
    Jan 9th 2012, 12:34 AM

    No, I don’t think she does.

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ger Byrne
    Favourite Ger Byrne
    Report
    Jan 9th 2012, 10:28 PM

    the pictures of ireland were taken by nasa on the instructions of the american secret service so they can spy on jim corr!!! ….fact…………. he told me so himself!!!!

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Bernadette Dunne
    Favourite Bernadette Dunne
    Report
    Jan 9th 2012, 4:16 AM

    The pictures a fab but not much said about the lights of Roscommon and they mention Cork and the poor ROSSIES just want to be seen lol lol lol lol lol lol

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Marko Medina
    Favourite Marko Medina
    Report
    Jan 29th 2012, 5:20 PM

    I would want to include in my site http://www.satelliteview.org this images, possible is?

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel

 
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds