Vol. 538 No. 5
59 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Defence his views on whether the method of disposal of surplus equipment belonging to the Defence Forces is satisfactory; and whether the price achieved in the sale of the LE Deirdre represented good value for the State. [18331/01]
In consultation with the Naval Service, it was agreed that the services of a professional shipbroker/agent would be engaged to assist the Department of Defence with the sale of LE Deirdre. The ship is 30 years old and having reached the end of its economic life was taken out of commission earlier this year. Expressions of interest were sought in the daily newspapers in April 2001. Mr. Dominic Daly from Cork was subsequently engaged to assist the Department in this regard.
Arrangements were made by Mr. Daly to proceed with the sale of LE Deirdre by public auction on 14 June in the Carrigaline Court Hotel, Carrigaline, County Cork. Bidding for the vessel started at the ships scrap value of £50,000 and increased to a final bid of £190,000 from Seastream International Limited, Cornwall, England. The conditions of sale for the auction stated that the sale of LE Deirdre shall be subject to the approval of the Minister for Defence and I intend dealing with the matter as soon as possible. The ship was not sold off at a knock-down price. The accepted bid of £190,000 was above what was expected for a 30 year old ship and I am very satisfied with the end result of the public auction.
Question No. 60 answered with Question No. 57.
Question No. 61 answered orally with Question No. 9.
