Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 31 January 2024
16. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the current status of the stated intention to scrap the LÉ Eithne; if he will review the decision to scrap the vessel and instead put it to alternative uses, considering that this was the last such vessel built at Verolme dockyard in Cork and the other historical roles that this vessel was involved in; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4354/24]
View answerThe decision to decommission and dispose of LÉ Eithne in July 2022 was made having regard to the age and condition of the vessel and the resourcing and maintenance implications of retaining the vessel.
A number of organisations, including Dublin Port and the local authorities in Cork and Limerick, indicated their interest in taking LÉ Eithne as a museum piece / tourist attraction following her decommissioning. The Department of Defence engaged extensively with these interested parties but following, in some cases, lengthy discussions, all these parties withdrew their interest in taking the ship.
When, despite the best efforts of all involved, these discussions were not successful in identifying an alternative use for LÉ Eithne post-decommissioning, I decided that the vessel should be disposed of by recycling in an environmentally sound manner along with two other recently decommissioned Naval Service vessels, LÉ Ciara and LÉ Orla.
Following a competitive process, a preferred bidder has been identified to remove the three ships from Cork Harbour and to recycle them in line with the EU Ship Recycling Regulation and relevant national regulations. Contract negotiations are underway with the preferred bidder and it is hoped to sign a contract in the coming weeks.
