asked the Minister for Defence what is the personnel in officers and men needed to man one of his Department's corvettes.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Manning of Corvettes.
40.
The complement of a corvette as prescribed in Defence Force Regulations consists of five officers and 74 men.
Will the Minister tell us how many men he has standing by, if he sends that number to sea?
I think I told the Deputy that we are able to man sufficiently, under the regulations as provided, one corvette. Now the question arises whether such a large number of men is necessary for the manning of boats that would be required exclusively for fishery protection and that brings me back to the major question again. That is a policy decision which has not yet been taken. When it has, we can deal with the other questions.
Question No. 41.
On the previous question, I mentioned coastguard cutters to the Minister and asked him if it was his intention to purchase some of these. Now the Minister points out that the corvettes take too many men—the complement is about 70—and the Department are toying with the idea of purchasing boats which would not require such a large complement. I ask the Minister now if it is his intention to purchase coastguard cutters.
That does not arise.
Would the Deputy describe these cutters?
A coastguard cutter is a small ship carrying ten to fifteen men, with a speed of about 30 knots, armed with a two-inch gun. It could bring in any of the people who are raiding our fisheries.
I would be very glad to have detailed specifications of a suitable boat from the Deputy and I assure him I will give any information he gives me every consideration.
I hope the Minister will. It took him five years to give consideration to a helicopter.