I propose to take Questions Nos. 143, 144 and 145 together.
In July 2022, the then Minister for Defence accepted the recommendation of the joint civil-military Working Group on Decommissioning that the decommissioning and disposal of three (3) Naval Service ships, namely LÉ Eithne P31, LÉ Orla P41, and LÉ Ciara P42, should be progressed as soon as practicable, taking into account the age and condition of the vessels and the resourcing and maintenance implications of retaining the vessels.
Following the decision to decommission and dispose of the ships, the method of disposal came under consideration. A number of disposal options were considered, including (1)
Possible donation of LÉ Eithne as a museum piece / tourist attraction; (2) Recycling at an EU approved Ship Recycling Facility; (3) Sale by Public Auction; and (4) a Government to Government transfer of LÉ Orla and LÉ Ciara.
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.
My Department did not itself carry out a feasibility study in relation to turning LÉ Eithne into a naval or maritime museum, but I am informed that Dublin Port commissioned two reports in addition to a ship survey looking at the feasibility of taking LÉ Eithne as a historic museum ship in Dublin Port. However, Dublin Port subsequently withdrew their interest in taking the vessel.
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 decommissioned Naval Service vessels, LÉ Ciara and LÉ Orla.
While there is a cost associated with recycling the ships, this disposal method gives certainty on the ultimate destination of the vessels and deals with them finally in an environmental manner in line with Government and EU policy. EU Regulations set out a framework regulating ship recycling and associated waste. These rules lay down requirements for ships and recycling facilities to ensure that ship recycling takes place in an environmentally safe and sound manner and establishes a European list of ship recycling facilities. EU rules on ship recycling aim to make it greener and safer, and to reduce the negative environmental and social impacts of recycling ships. It aims to prevent, reduce and minimise accidents injuries and other negative effects on human health and the environment related to the recycling of ships flying the flag of European Union countries.
Managing waste in an environmentally sound manner and making use of the secondary materials they contain are key elements of the EU’s environmental policy. The EU’s Ship Recycling Regulation is part of EU Waste Policy, which links to the European Green Deal and the Circular Economy Action Plan.
Following a competitive process, officials from my Department have recently signed a contract for the removal of the ships from Cork Harbour for recycling in line with the EU Ship Recycling Regulation and relevant national regulations.
To date, €15,461 has been spent on inspection services for LÉ Eithne as part of the disposal process. However, it is planned to move the vessel from Haulbowline Naval Base to Doyles Shipyard in Cork Harbour shortly for preparatory works on the ship prior to towing to Belgium and recycling. There will be additional costs associated with these works which are not yet available.
The Naval Service ships decommissioned and disposed of since 2000 are as follows:
• In 2017 the former Naval Service vessel LÉ Aisling was sold by way of public auction to Mr Dick Van Der Kamp, a Dutch shipbroker, for a sum of €110,000.
• In 2015, following a request from the Maltese authorities, the then Minister for Defence agreed to donate the former LÉ Aoife to the Maltese Armed Forces to assist in the humanitarian crisis in the region. A nominal sum of €30,000 was received for the transfer of ownership of the vessel.
• In 2013 the former LÉ Emer was sold to Uniglobe Industrial Services Limited of Nigeria for a sum of €380,965.20.
• In 2001 the former LÉ Deirdre was sold by public auction for a sum of IR£190,000.
I can confirm that I have had no recent communications with the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media regarding the setting up of an Irish Naval Museum in Cork Harbour.
