Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 10 March 2022
254. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence if it is recognised that Ireland has a vulnerable coastline that requires constant supervision by the Naval Service and Air Corps; if efforts are being made to fully upgrade both forces in line with their obligations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13764/22]
View answer257. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the extent to which the capability of the Naval Service is under examination given the need to ensure its operational ability in the event of natural or other disasters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13767/22]
View answer263. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence if all aircraft under the control of the Air Corps are fully operational; the extent to which this applies to the rescue equipment and coastal surveillance equipment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13773/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 254, 257 and 263 together.
My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Defence Forces is maintained to the greatest extent possible to enable the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service to carry out their roles as assigned by Government.
The Air Corps operate a fleet of fixed and rotary wing aircraft which provide military support to the Army and Naval Service, together with support for non-military air services such as Garda Air Support, air ambulance, fisheries protection and the Ministerial Air Transport Service. In conjunction with this, the Naval Service has nine ships. Two ships, LÉ Orla and LÉ Eithne, are currently in operational reserve but can be called upon for surge operations in times of national emergency, as was the case when LÉ Eithne was deployed to Cork City in 2020 in support of Operation Fortitude and the national response to the Covid-19 pandemic. In addition one ship is in the process of a mid-life re-fit which is expected to last a total of 18 - 24 months.
At any one time the Naval Service can have a number of ships that are on active operations around the Irish EEZ whilst a number of others are undergoing routine resupply, maintenance and down time for ships companies. While the main day to day tasking 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, it also carries out a number of other non-fishery related tasks in tandem with maritime surveillance, and as such any Naval Service patrol should be viewed as a multi-faceted activity. Naval Operations Command operate a rotating patrol schedule to maintain a constant presence in the Irish EEZ. This is supported by the Air Corps Maritime Patrol Squadron which carries out aerial surveillance of the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) using the two CASA CN 235 maritime patrol aircraft. These aircraft are equipped with state-of-the-art surveillance and communication equipment which offers aerial assistance to the Naval Service in patrolling the Irish EEZ.
The Air Corps and Naval Service provide assistance and support to maritime search and rescue missions on an as available basis, however, the lead agency for search and rescue (SAR) in Ireland's maritime SAR domain is the Irish Coast Guard.
Priorities for the Defence Forces are considered in the context of the White Paper on Defence as part of the capability development, infrastructure and equipment planning processes and are also now being considered in the context of the recently published Commission on the Defence Forces report.
The White Paper sets out an ambitious programme of capital investment in the Air Corps and Naval Service, which includes the mid-life refit and upgrade of the P50 class of vessels, and the replacement of the flagship LÉ Eithne with a multi-role vessel (MRV), along with the purchase of PC-12 aircraft and supply of two C295 Maritime Patrol Aircraft.
The Commission on the Defence Forces recently published their report on the 9th February 2022. The Commission have undertaken a significant body of work encompassing wide-ranging terms of reference. The report contains 69 main recommendations and together with sub recommendations, there are 130 recommendations. The Commission's terms of reference included the consideration of appropriate capabilities, structures and staffing for the Army, the Air Corps and the Naval Service.
It is anticipated that this process will take at least four to five months in order to bring a considered and comprehensive proposal back to Government to address the fundamental issues that the Commission have set out.
