Ireland Could Build a Strategic Chip Industry—But Who Will Defend It?

In my previous post, I suggested that Ireland has an opportunity to position itself at the heart of Europe’s technological future. With the Apple windfall, it has the resources to invest in one of the most strategically vital industries of the next century—advanced semiconductor manufacturing. Given the EU’s urgent need for local chip production, such a move would not only strengthen Ireland’s economy but also provide a critical asset for the entire bloc.But semiconductor manufacturing is not just an economic investment—it is strategic infrastructure. As Europe works to reduce its reliance on foreign supply chains, a major chip facility in Ireland would be as much about security as it is about industry. And that raises an unavoidable question: who would protect it?Ireland has traditionally maintained a stance of neutrality, but the assumptions that once justified it no longer apply. A country cannot host a strategic industry without also ensuring its defence. If Ireland builds an advanced chip facility that is vital to the European Union, it cannot stand apart from Europe’s defence structures. The moment Ireland commits to this level of industrial and technological integration, it must also commit to reassessing its role in European security.This would not be a loss of sovereignty—rather a recognition of Ireland’s evolving role as a core European partner. A commitment to strategic industry must come with a commitment to strategic alignment—militarily, technologically, and politically.Ireland is at a pivotal decision point. It can remain an economic success story but continue outsourcing its security to others, or it can take the next step—fully engaging as a leader in both strategic industry and strategic defence.