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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 28 Mar 2000

Vol. 516 No. 6

Written Answers. - Naval Service Vessels.

Frances Fitzgerald

Ceist:

193 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Defence if he has satisfied himself that the Naval Service has the resources for fishery protection and drug interdiction in Irish waters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9139/00]

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

213 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence whether Irelands naval services, including ships, personnel and equipment, are sufficient to meet ongoing and projected requirements; if Ireland's commitment in respect of fisheries protection and other naval surveillance work is comparable to that provided for in other EU member states with similar coastlines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9177/00]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 193 and 213 together.

The Naval Service is the State's principal sea going agency and is tasked with a variety of defence and other roles. It is equipped with a total of eight vessels comprising one helicopter carrying vessel, five offshore patrol vessels and two coastal patrol vessels. The new patrol vessel, the LE Róisín, was commissioned on 15 December 1999 and became operational immediately afterwards. I recently announced the decision to acquire a second new ship similar to the LE Róisín.

The present policy of ongoing recruitment for enlistment in the Defence Forces, which I have approved, is designed to address the question of any shortfalls in personnel numbers in the Defence Forces, including the Naval Service. I have already provided the House with specific details on this in a reply to a question this afternoon.

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 to 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.

Fishery protection activity accounts for over 90% of all Naval Service patrol time. However, as the need arises, Naval Service vessels may be deployed to other duties such as search and rescue, aid to the civil power, drug interdiction operations and assistance with pollution control.

Responsibility for the prevention of the illegal importation of drugs rests primarily with the Garda Síochána and the Revenue Commissioners. While 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, Government measures to improve law enforcement in relation to drugs, including the establishment, in 1993, of a joint task force involving the Garda, the Customs Service and the Naval Service, have helped to maximise the effective use of Naval Service resources in combating the illegal importation of drugs.

During the course of routine patrols Naval Service vessels may be deployed to drug interdiction operations. Naval Service vessels are specifically tasked from time to time to carry out drug search and interdiction operations in aid of the civil authorities. While Naval Service personnel are designated as enforcement officers under the Criminal Justice Act, 1994, in practice the Naval Service operates under the direction of the joint task force where measures to combat the importation of illegal drugs are concerned. Existing resources enable the Naval Service to respond effectively to taskings involving fisheries protection and the prevention of illegal drug importation.
It would not be meaningful to draw comparisons between the full range of duties performed by the Naval Service with duties performed by the naval services-fishery protection agencies of other European Union member states.
The White Paper on Defence considered the role of the Naval Service. It describes in a comprehensive way the contribution which the Naval Service makes in this regard. The White Paper also recognises the significant and primary activity of the Naval Service in implementing European Union fishery policies.
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