Jack Wall
Question:113 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Defence the capabilities of the Naval Service to deal with threats and protect citizens by patrolling territorial waters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31868/01]
Written Answers. - Naval Service.
The Naval Service is the State's principal seagoing agency and is tasked with a variety of defence and other roles. It is equipped with a total of eight vessels comprising one helicopter carrying vessel, five offshore patrol vessels and two coastal patrol vessels. Among this complement of vessels is the LE Róisín which was commissioned into the Naval Service in December 1999 and the LE Niamh which was commissioned in September of this year.
The main day-to-day role of the Naval Service is to provide a fishery protection service in accordance with the State's obligations as a member of the European Union. The service is tasked with patrolling all Irish waters from the shoreline to the outer limits of the exclusive economic zone. Fishery protection activity accounts for over 90% of all Naval Service patrol time. As the need arises, Naval Service vessels may be deployed to other duties such as aid to the civil power, search and rescue, drug interdiction operations and assistance with pollution control.
I am satisfied that existing resources enable the Naval Service to respond effectively to the above taskings.