Vol. 533 No. 4
50 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Defence when the new Naval Service vessel the L.E. Niamh will be available for operational duties; the arrangements which have been made for armament of the vessel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8999/01]
The build of the second new ship for the Naval Service, to be named L.E. Niamh, is progressing well. The ship is being built by Appledore Shipbuilders limited in England. The ship should be completed by the end of April 2001 and ready for operational duties in June 2001. The ship is a replacement for L.E. Deirdre which has reached the end of its economic life. The ship is being constructed to the same design as L.E. Roisin. The design allows for the fitting of an Oto Melara 76 millimetre gun when the ship arrives in Ireland.
