Vol. 519 No. 3
144 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence his plans for improvement, upgrading and enhancement of the naval service, in view of the need to modernise in accordance with likely requirements arising from participation in Partnership for Peace and in view of the need to provide an adequate deterrent to international crime and drug dealing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13855/00]
The Naval Service has a general responsibility to meet Ireland's contingent and actual maritime defence requirements. As mentioned in the recent White Paper on Defence, the Government has decided that the Naval Service will be developed around the provision of an eight ship flotilla. On a day to day basis, the main activity of the Naval Service, amounting to over 90% of its operations, is the provision of fishery protection services in co-operation with the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources which has primary responsibility in the matter.
The Government is committed to continuous investment in the equipment needs of the Naval Service to carry out its roles. In December 1999, the LE Róisín was commissioned and is now active on fishery protection patrols. Last month, I signed a contract for the construction of a further vessel, similar to LE Róisín which is expected to be completed in the latter half of next year. The second new ship will replace LE Deirdre as it approaches the end of its economic life. The total cost of these vessels will represent investment of about £44 million. Older vessels of the fleet have been extensively overhauled as part of an ongoing programme in recent years and this programme will be completed this year with the refit of LE Ciara and LE Orla.
Responsibility for the prevention of the illegal importation of drugs rests primarily with the Garda Síochána and the Revenue Commissioners. As already mentioned, 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. Government measures to improve law enforcement in relation to drugs, including the establishment in 1993 of a joint task force involving the Garda, the customs service and the Naval Service, have helped to maximise the effective use of Naval Service resources in combating the illegal importation of drugs.
During the course of routine patrols Naval Service vessels may be deployed to anti-drug smuggling operations. Naval Service vessels are specifically tasked from time to time to carry out drug search and interdiction operations in aid of the civil authorities. While Naval Service personnel are designated as enforcement officers under the Criminal Justice Act, 1994, in practice the Naval Service operates under the direction of the joint task force where measures to combat the importation of illegal drugs are concerned. In this regard, the White Paper on Defence does not envisage any change in the role of the Naval Service.
