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But critics argue that Ireland, awash with cash from a corporation tax bonanza paid by global firms with big operations in the country, is using its neutral status to duck its 21st-century responsibilities.

The country is committed to neutrality, however, with incoming president Catherine Connolly vocally against increased militarisation, and deep public opposition to joining Nato. Polls show almost two-thirds of voters are happy with Ireland’s model of military neutrality.

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Despite these high stakes, Ireland has no dedicated intelligence agency, just four working navy vessels and the smallest defence budget in the EU. In fact, the only thing the Irish navy can do when it spots a suspicious ship lurking is say “hello”.

Ireland’s pivotal location on the edge of Europe means that an attack on its undersea cables could disrupt financial markets across continents, spark devastating internet outages and profoundly damage the Big Tech infrastructure upon which the island has grown rich.

Last week the Russian spy ship Yantar, designed for mapping and surveilling undersea cables, was spotted off Scotland, heading for Irish waters. It is one of a number of recent sightings that have raised alarm bells over Ireland’s inability to defend the essential infrastructure off its shores.