Vol. 196 No. 15
andMr. McQuillan asked the Minister for Defence the total hours sailed by the Asgard during this season to date, the total number of training hours completed, and the total number of personnel trained; and who is the officer in charge of instruction.
26.
asked the Minister for Defence what is the present position of the yacht Asgard; whether it is to be used for any purpose during the present year, and if so, what purpose; and what measures are being taken at present to ensure that the condition of the yacht does not deteriorate.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 25 and 26 together.
The yacht Asgard is at present in the yard of Coimisinéirí na nOibreacha Poiblí in Dún Laoghaire where it has been stored since the beginning of last winter. Arrangements are being made to have necessary repairs carried out to the vessel to render it fit for training personnel of an Slúa Muiri for which purpose it will be used this year. No sailing has been done by the Asgard during the present season to date and no training has been carried out aboard her. It is not considered that the Asgard has been subject to any undue deterioration while awaiting repairs.
Other than for the purpose of bringing President de Valera for a ceremonial cruise around Dublin Bay, why was so much public money spent on this boat?
If the Deputy does not know the answer to that, there is no point in my giving it to him.
What is the use in having a boat confined to dry land?
I do not think the Minister is fully conscious of the fact that this yacht, purchased at a considerable amount of money to commemorate the late Erskine Childers and the other brave men involved in the Howth gun-running, was allowed to deteriorate for the past nine months in Dún Laoghaire Harbour. I want the Minister to give this House an assurance that that beautiful yacht will not be allowed to rot in that harbour. It has been dismantled and dismasted and allowed to deteriorate. I trust the Minister will ensure that it will be put in fit condition for use by our Naval Service.
I can assure Deputy Treacy that no such deterioration has set in. The appearance of the boat does require refurbishing but we have seen to it that this boat will be preserved for training and as a precious national exhibit.
Would the Minister consider providing this yacht for the Minister for Transport and Power in order to assist British Railways in giving a decent passenger service between this country and Britain?
Is the Minister aware that the normal time for putting a yacht in the water is May and that the normal time for taking it out is September? This is almost the end of July. Why, then, was this yacht not repaired for training the personnel he mentioned and put in the water around last May? Why was it allowed to deteriorate since last May?
For the reason that it is not being put to sea until the necessary repairs are carried out. It is not easy to get a contractor to carry out this type of work on a wooden yacht.
Dún Laoghaire is full of them.
Several inquiries drew a blank but now arrangements have finally been made to carry out the repairs and I hope they will be undertaken in the very near future.
Does the Minister not know that all the yachts in Dún Laoghaire have been in the water since last May? Does he not know also that any necessary work on them was done last winter and last spring, while the Government have done nothing about this yacht until July?
The Deputy may accept my word that exhaustive inquiries were made to get a contractor for the work. I am telling him that was the position. We have now succeeded in righting the position and the repairs will be undertaken soon. I cannot say any more than that.
I have no doubt that the Minister is saying what he has been told——
I am saying what is true.
