Michael Smith
Question:1 Mr. M. Smith asked the Minister for Defence the proposals, if any, he has for the expansion of the Naval Service which is urgently required for the control and patrolling of our fishery waters. [9149/95]
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Expansion of Naval Service.
Austin Deasy
Question:7 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Defence the number of fishery protection vessels the Navy has at present. [9051/95]
Austin Deasy
Question:22 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Defence the additional fishery protection vessels he hopes to have before 1 January 1996, when an increased number of Spanish trawlers will be allowed to fish in Irish waters. [9069/95]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1, 7 and 22 together.
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 Naval Service's fishery protection patrols are complemented by assistance provided by the Air Corps in the form of aerial maritime patrols.
The Naval Service currently has a total of seven vessels which are deployed in the most efficient manner on fishery protection duties having regard to current and predicted fishing patterns.
Aerial maritime surveillance is undertaken by Dauphin helicopters working in conjunction with LE Eithne and the two new CASA aircraft recently acquired with the assistance of funding from the EU. The aerial patrols are co-ordinated with the operation of the Naval Service vessels.
With the new arrangements on fishery control measures which will arise in 1996, the workload of the Naval Service is set to increase. I am very conscious that additional resources, including new ships, would enhance the capability of the Naval Service to patrol our waters effectively and to enforce the new fishery control measures coming into place. I should say that the Spanish fishing effort is to be maintained at its present level — a maximum of 93 vessels — and, significantly, will continue to be distributed on the basis of geographic spread. We have managed to secure continuing recognition of and protection for the Irish Box. Spanish vessels will be totally excluded from the Irish Sea. Only 40 of the 93 named vessels will be allowed to fish in other parts of the Irish Box.
It is expected that a new EU fishery surveillance funding package will be available from 1996, the details of which are not yet finalised. I am hopeful, however, that for the first time such a package will include an element of funding for operational costs for Ireland. An essential requirement in the new package, as far as Ireland is concerned, will be the provision of additional ships for the Naval Service.
Discussions have been ongoing between officials from both my Departments to determine how best to meet the enforcement requirements of the new control measures, including the number of additional ships required by the Naval Service, and to prepare a detailed case for funding which I will present to the Commission next month.
I congratulate the Naval Service on its successful patrols and surveillance operations. It is clear from what the Minister said that additional resources will be required not only to patrol 132,000 square miles of fishery waters and to meet the changes which will be implemented in 1996 but also to deal with drug trafficking. My party always supported the purchase of additional ships and was involved in the purchase of the two new CASA aircraft. Will the Minister be in a position this year to recruit additional personnel to the Naval Service to enable it to carry out its many tasks more efficiently?
The number of personnel recruited will depend on whether we are successful in securing a commitment for the purchase of another ship. If we are — I am strongly pushing for the purchase of another ship - a crew of 60 will be required. Even if we do not secure this commitment, additional personnel will have to be recruited for the Naval Service this year. I do not know the exact numbers. A decision on this matter will have to be made during the early summer as the crew will require training on how to operate a ship. I hope we will know the position by early autumn and this will determine the exact number of new recruits required.
The primary role of the Naval Service is fishery protection and we have to be very careful that the funding provided by the EU for this purpose is not seen to be diverted by us into other activities. The Naval Service is involved in drug surveillance in support of the civil power but more needs to be done in this area. The Minister for Justice proposes to bring forward an initiative in this area and decisions should be made in the not too distant future. She has been in touch with the Departments of the Marine and Defence to see how best the Naval Service can be integrated with other bodies in the battle against drugs, which I strongly support.
I am glad there will be recruitment and I wish the Minister every success at the EU council in June in securing support for operational activities of this kind. On the figure outlined by the Minister in the Estimate for the Department of the Marine, will the recruits to the Naval Service be additional to those to the Defence Forces which he speculated would be recruited in the autumn?
I said that the total number of recruits to the Defence Forces this year would be approximately 250 and that some of these would be allocated to the Naval Service. However, if an additional ship is purchased consideration will have to be given to an increased allocation for the Naval Service.
Question No. 2.
I have been penalised for putting down relevant questions.
Great minds think alike.
Deputy Deasy should not intervene at this stage.
I said that the Judiciary should impose the maximum fines. There would be fewer problems if they did this.
Let us adhere to the procedure at this time.