What actions did Éire take during 'the Emergency'?

In addition to increasing its defence forces, Éire introduced new laws to deal with 'the Emergency'

Maintaining neutrality was difficult during the war. To achieve it, Éire's government did the following:

The Dáil used its extensive new powers under the Emergency Powers Act 1939 . There was strict censorship of the press and radio. No negative comments were permitted and weather reports were not published in case they helped either side in the war.

De Valera used the Offences Against the State Act 1939 and the Treason Act to deal decisively with the IRA . He was determined the activities of the IRA would not endanger Éire's neutrality

Éire ensured it received essential supplies previously brought by British ships as de Valera set up a Ministry of Supplies under Sean Lemass.

The government also established the Irish Shipping Company. By the end of the war it had fifteen ships which had carried over one million tons of cargo to Éire.

Éire's defences were strengthened. The army was expanded from 19,000 men to over 40,000 and new armoured cars were acquired. A Local Defence Volunteers Reserve force was established, though it was poorly equipped.

Six light torpedo boats were purchased, and war ships and submarines belonging to other nations were not allowed in Éire's territorial waters.

Fishermen and amateur yachtsmen formed a Coastal Patrol to watch for signs of invasion.

De Valera had had initially declared the IRA illegal in 1936. Its activities included attacks on the new political party, Fine Gael (formed in 1933 from the older political party Cumann na nGaedheal and the Blueshirts ).

In January 1939 the IRA Chief of Staff, Sean Russell, gave the British four days to withdraw from Ireland and he later began a bombing campaign in England, which resulted in six people being killed in Coventry.

The IRA also stole one million rounds of ammunition from a Dublin armoury and Russell visited Germany, resulting in several German agents parachuting into Éire.

As a consequence, approximately 1,000 IRA members were interned, six IRA men were hanged and three hunger strikers died. By 1943 IRA activities had almost ceased.