Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 May 2017
278. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the reason the LÉ Eithne was delayed from leaving Haulbowline to help Italian authorities rescue migrants in the Mediterranean Sea; the length of time the LÉ Eithne was forced to remain in dock; if there will be an investigation into the events; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22425/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere has been no delay in the deployment of the LÉ Eithne to support the Italian authorities in addressing the migrant crisis in the Mediterranean Sea.
On 11 April 2017, the Government approved the despatch of a Naval vessel to the Mediterranean to undertake humanitarian search and rescue tasks as part of a bilateral arrangement with the Italian authorities. The Government decision provided that the deployment is subject to finalisation of a bilateral arrangement with the Italian authorities in relation to the operation of the mission and the landing of persons rescued.
Standard practice, since the first deployment of the Naval Service to the Mediterranean, has been that the Naval Service vessels do not depart their base in Haulbowline until the relevant diplomatic procedures are completed, which normally takes four to six weeks. This is necessary to ensure that the requisite coordination arrangements with the Italian authorities and the arrangements for the landing of rescued migrants are in place before a vessel commences operational duties. The requirement for completion of the diplomatic arrangements has been a feature of all Naval Service deployments to the Mediterranean to date and is well understood by all involved. As such, no date for a deployment had been determined and there has been no delay in the deployment of the vessel.
On receipt of the Government decision, the relevant communication was made to the Italian authorities by the Department of Defence through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Embassy in Rome. There has been ongoing contact with the Italian authorities in relation to this matter and I expect, in accordance with normal procedures, the exchange of diplomatic notes to be completed shortly. As the Deputy will appreciate, the Naval Vessel cannot deploy until all of the relevant diplomatic procedures have been completed in accordance with standing practice and the relevant Government decision.
