Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 25 Apr 1968

Vol. 234 No. 3

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Visit of British Vessel to County Mayo.

14.

asked the Minister for Defence whether a British frigate or ship of that size was moored near Belmullet, County Mayo recently; whether local Garda were aware of this; and if he will state the purpose of this visit.

The ship referred to by the Deputy is probably the British hydrographic vessel HMS "Hecate" which was anchored in Blacksod Bay from the 1st to the 5th and on the 9th and 10th of the present month. The vessel was in the bay in question for the purpose of establishing a radio transmitting station on a site at Annagh Head, County Mayo, in connection with a hydrographic survey which the British Hydrographic Department is carrying out in the North Atlantic.

As I stated in reply to a previous question on 2nd May, 1967, our authorities are co-operating with the British in this survey the results of which will be made available to us. The local Garda were fully informed of the visit of the HMS "Hecate" this month and a liaison officer of the Naval Service was also in attendance during the periods involved.

Barr
Roinn