Bríd Smith
Question:138. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of lives saved in the Mediterranean Sea during each of the Irish naval missions in each of the years 2015 to 2017. [2934/18]
View answerTuesday, 23 January 2018
Questions (138)
Written answers
The deployment of Irish Naval vessels to the Mediterranean to engage in humanitarian search and rescue tasks as part of Operation Pontus from 2015 to 2017, was an important element in Ireland's response to the migration crisis in the Mediterranean. Overall, 17,509 migrants were rescued under Operation Pontus and details are out in the table below.
|
Year |
Deployed |
Naval vessel |
Persons rescued |
|
2015 |
16 MAY - 17 JULY |
LÉ EITHNE |
3,377 |
|
|
10 JULY - 02 OCTOBER |
LÉ NIAMH |
4,127 |
|
|
24 SEPTEMBER - 29 NOVEMBER |
LÉ SAMUEL BECKETT |
1,088 |
|
TOTAL |
|
|
8,592 |
|
2016 |
01 MAY – 15 JULY |
L.É. RÓISÍN |
1,264 |
|
|
08 JULY – 30 SEPTEMBER |
L.É. JAMES JOYCE |
2,678 |
|
|
23 SEPTEMBER – 16 DECEMBER |
L.É. SAMUEL BECKETT |
3,087 |
|
TOTAL |
|
|
7,029 |
|
2017 |
23 MAY – 22 JULY |
L.É. EITHNE |
1,187 |
|
|
14 JULY – 6 OCT |
L.É. WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS |
701 |
|
TOTAL |
|
|
1,888 |
As the Deputy will note there is a significant variation in the numbers rescued over similar periods in 2015, 2016 and 2017 and the flow of migrants is impossible to predict. There has been a significant fall in the number of migrants coming through the Central Mediterranean Route in 2017, down by 50% which is reflected in the reduced number of rescues by Operation Pontus in 2017.
In July 2017, Government and Dáil approval was secured for the redeployment of Irish Naval Service vessels from primarily humanitarian search and rescue operations, to primarily security and interception operations, as part of EUNAVFOR MED Operation Sophia.
Operation Sophia specifically seeks to counter human trafficking and smuggling in the Southern Central Mediterranean by taking action against the criminal networks and disrupting the smugglers business model. The mission is also providing capacity building and training to the Libyan Coastguard and Navy and contributing to the implementation of UN Security Council Resolutions No. 2240 and No. 2292. These Resolutions also authorise the interception of vessels suspected of being used for illicit activities and impose an arms embargo on Libya in an effort to prevent the flow of illicit arms and related material into that country.
An Irish naval vessel, L.É. Niamh, deployed on 6 October 2017 to join Operation Sophia and returned to Ireland on 20 December 2017. In the course of its deployment as part of Operation Sophia, the L.É. Niamh was primarily tasked to respond to Safety of Life at Sea (Search and Rescue) events in the area of operation. Over the period of its deployment with Operation Sophia, a total of 613 persons were rescued by the LE Niamh.
As a participant in Operation Sophia, Ireland is now working closely as part of 27 EU Member States making a contribution to addressing some of the root causes of migration and human trafficking. From a security and disruption perspective, Operation Sophia has been able to dispose of more than 520 assets used by smugglers and traffickers. The mission has apprehended 130 suspected smugglers on the high seas who have been handed over to the Italian authorities and are currently either awaiting or facing trial. It has responded to 290 Safety of Life at Sea events and rescued over 42,400 migrants to date.