Jim Higgins
Ceist:90 Mr. Higgins (Mayo) asked the Minister for Defence the plans, if any, he has for the future role of the Navy in fishery protection in the waters around Ireland. [22727/98]
Written Answers. - Naval Service Operations.
Jim O'Keeffe
Ceist:110 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Defence the plans, if any, he has to expand the role of the Navy and to make further resources available to it. [26618/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 90 and 110 together.
The main day to day role of the Naval Service is to provide a fishery protection service in accordance with the State's obligations as a member of the European Union. The service is tasked with patrolling all Irish waters from the shoreline to the outer limits of the exclusive economic zone. These patrols are carried out on a regular and frequent basis and are directed at all areas of Irish waters as necessary. Fishery protection patrols are complemented by assistance provided by the Air Corps in the form of aerial surveillance by the two CASA maritime patrol aircraft. Other roles carried out by the Naval Service, generally in support of other Government Departments, include search and rescue operations, aid to the civil power, drugs interdiction at sea, salmon fishery patrols and assistance with oil pollution control at sea.
The Naval Service is equipped with a total of seven vessels comprising one helicopter carrying vessel, four offshore patrol vessels and two coastal patrol vessels. At present, six vessels are operational and one is undergoing refit. A new fishery protection patrol vessel — FPPV — is currently under construction and is due to be delivered in September 1999.
Following the Government's consideration of the Price Waterhouse review of the Air Corps and the Naval Service, a planning process is now in place to give effect to the Government's decision in the matter. There are two broad dimensions to this work. First, there is the need to address the military capability requirements to be comprehended within the White Paper on defence which were not dealt with in the consultants' report. Second, there is a range of effectiveness and efficiency recommendations for implementation in order to ensure that the taxpayer obtains the best air and sea services possible.
In this regard, I have recently instructed the Chief of Staff to initiate, in conjunction with the General Officer Commanding the Air Corps and the Flag Officer Commanding the Naval Service, the necessary process to address these matters. It is my aim to ensure that plans for the effectiveness and efficiency measures can be finalised early in the new year. Following the first meeting of the special consultation group which was set up to facilitate the input of the key stakeholders to the implementation planning process and which I chair, I have asked the key stakeholders including the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources to make their input in relation to the services, including fishery protection, which they require.