asked the Taoiseach if he will state whether the Government Information Bureau recently issued a statement referring to the staffing, training, or equipment of the naval service; and if so, if he will give the terms of the statement.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Naval Service.
Such a statement was issued by the Government Information Bureau on the 11th November. The terms of the statement are as follows:—
"That the first of the corvettes which the Department of Defence has purchased from the British Admiralty is now ready at Devenport for handing over. The officer who will command the vessel has left Haulbowline with a crew to take over the ship.
The ship will be commissioned this week by order of the Minister for Defence as a public armed ship of Ireland in the name of ‘L.E. Macha'. The prefix letters `L. E.', which stand for Long Eireannach, have been officially adopted for use in the naval service. Macha was an Ulster Queen to whom is attributed the founding of Eamhain Macha, or Emania, now known as Navan Fort near Armagh.
It is proposed to appoint in the near future an experienced naval officer as director of the naval service.
A small number of N.C.O. technicians are being seconded from the British service to initiate training on equipment not hitherto available to members of the Irish Naval Service. The ship's complement is five officers and 45 ratings.
The armament includes 4", 2-pounder and Oerliken guns. The vessels are also fitted for mine-sweeping and depth-charge throwing as well as with the latest Asdic, Radar and radio equipment.
The naval service remains part of the Defence Forces."