asked the Minister for Defence if it is proposed to sell the corvettes and replace them with a more modern type of naval ship serviceable for fishery control and the home training of naval personnel.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Replacements of Corvettes.
43.
The answer is in the negative.
Does the Minister not consider that corvettes are obsolete now as fighting ships, for training personnel and for fishery protection and that no other navy in the world has corvettes at the moment?
The corvettes are likely to give satisfactory service for a number of years both as regards fishery control and the training of naval personnel and, for that reason, it is not contemplated to replace them at the moment.
Does the Minister not realise that a corvette with hull up can be seen about 20 miles away? I do not see what use that is for fishery protection.