Ireland needs to 'grow up' and stop acting like we don't have to get involved in defence.
That's according to Newstalk Breakfast host Ciara Kelly, who was speaking as the Defence Forces has been monitoring a number of Russian ships in Ireland's exclusive economic zone in recent days.
Russian ships are not allowed to dock in EU or British ports and their presence is likely a refuelling mission - but it is also possible they are surveying Irish infrastructure.
Ciara said Ireland needs a different approach to defence.
"I believe we have a child-like attitude to defence in this country," she said.
"We think our neutrality is like a shield that protects us, but I think we are naïve.
"I don't think it protects us, I think it makes us a soft target.
"We haven't thought it through... the Russians have been in our territorial waters on more than one occasion in the last number of months.
"They are bad actors on the European stage: they have invaded Ukraine, there is war in Europe.
"I think we're kind of acting like we don't have to get involved - nonsense".
Ciara said Ireland's defence is relying on the help of others.
"If you look at all along the countries that border with Russia all of them... are either in NATO or trying to get into NATO," she said.
"We live in an era where it is not a peaceful coexistence, currently, within Europe.
"I think we are naïve and childlike and I don't know what we expect to be able to do to defend ourselves should Russia blow up our pipelines.
"Are we just hoping that the UK, the EU and NATO will help us just maybe?
"I think it's a nonsense: I think we need to grow up a little bit.
"We are a sovereign state and we are a soft target," she added.
