Monica Barnes
Question:6 Mrs. Barnes asked the Minister for Defence when a helicopter will operate from the LE Eithne to assist it in its fishery patrol duty.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Fishery Patrol Duty.
Eamon Gilmore
Question:42 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Defence if, in regard to the commitment given in the Review of the Programme for Government, he will outline when a helicopter will be permanently based on a naval vessel; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 and 42 together.
A Dauphin helicopter will be located at Cork in the near future, primarily for operation with LE Eithne. The helicopter will also be available for search and rescue purposes.
Will the Minister agree it was previously stated in the House that the helicopter would be located at Cork in the early part of this year on the LE Eithne to provide the necessary protection for our fisheries? What is causing the delay?
As I said, the Dauphin helicopter will be located in Cork in the very near future. However, before the helicopter is permanently located on the LE Eithne a certain amount of training has to be undertaken. That training has been going on for the past number of months and we are now in a position to relocate the helicopter. The Deputy will be aware that a new search and rescue service was provided in Shannon which enabled us to move the helicopher based there to Finner Camp, which helped the whole service. We now have a very efficient and effective service and it is hoped that the helicopter can be located in Cork almost immediately.
The Dauphin helicopter costs £20 million and the LE Eithne is one of the most sophisticated ships in our fleet; they complement one another and were basically built for one another. Will the Minister agree that part of his difficulties stems from the fact that there is a shortage of skilled technicians and pilots because of the attraction of industries elsewhere?
Our full fleet of equipment, helicopters and surveillance craft is capable of being fully manned by our present staff. I am not sure of the situation in regard to the new search and rescue service at Shannon; that is a separate matter which is looked after by the Department of the Marine. But, as I said, we have adequate staff to deal with our helicopters. We also have people who had left the service some time ago coming back to it.
Can the Minister explain why there is a delay if the skilled staff are available?
There is no delay.
These aircraft and vessels — the LE Eithne was purchased a number of years ago — complement each other. It seems that, given weather conditions such as prevailed last night, the lives of many people might be at risk today or in the future if the LE Eithne and the helicopter crews are not available. Unless something is done rapidly we will be blamed for neglecting our duty to seafarers in the main.
I am fully conscious of the demands on the search and rescue service. This service has been greatly enhanced in the last few years. The new marine service which has been set up in Shannon by the Department of the Marine enhances the overall service and it is much better now than ever before. I take this opportunity of complimenting the staff on their skill, ability and expertise in dealing with a number of serious incidents that have occurred, especially in recent times. These people are fully trained and are quite capable of dealing with any emergency that might arise.
Would the Minister not agree that over the recent fishing season in particular our fisheries were not protected as adequately as they would have been if a helicopter was placed on one of the naval vessels, and that the continued delay in providing a helicopter further hinders the protection of our fisheries?
I can safely say that the fisheries are better protected now than ever before. The recent acquisition of the Casa has proved a major success. Indications are that a number of apprehensions have taken place through the use of the Casa. A number of vessels, both foreign and Irish, have been detained for illegal activity and this indicates clearly the success of the surveillance service. The Dauphin and the LE Eithne should certainly enhance the service further. There is now a very capable overall service in operation in the surveillance and fisheries protection area and indeed with the search and rescue service. It is far superior to the service that operated two or three years ago.