I propose to take Questions Nos. 57, 68 and 70 together.
As I have already stated, my priority as Minister with Responsibility for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service is maintained to the greatest extent possible so as to enable the Defence Forces to carry out their roles as assigned by Government both at home and overseas.
As the State’s principal sea-going agency, and in accordance with international and domestic law, the Naval Service, through its patrols, undertakes a variety of functions in the maritime domain in accordance with its role in contributing to maritime security. This encompasses the provision of support to other Government Departments and Agencies such the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, An Garda Síochána, the Revenue Commissioners and the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority. The Defence Forces will continue to provide a range of supports to these Bodies in accordance with its roles in aid to the civil power and to the civil authority and as set out in the applicable Memoranda of Understanding and Service Level Agreements. In addition, the Naval Service role has expanded in recent years with significant additional operational requirements for the Naval fleet in the Mediterranean Sea.
Future Naval Service capabilities are being planned as part of the White Paper project planning process which will determine the Defence Organisation's maritime capabilities. The White Paper provides for the replacement of the current Naval Service flagship LÉ Eithne with a multi role vessel (MRV). It is the Government’s intent that this new vessel will provide a flexible and adaptive capability for a wide range of maritime tasks, both at home and overseas. The acquisition of a modern vessel will ensure that the operational capabilities of the Naval Service, as the State’s principal seagoing agency, are maintained to the greatest extent and takes account of the overall policy approach in the White Paper on Defence.
Planning has commenced on this project and it is intended to hold a public tender competition in due course to cover the supply of the MRV. The design and configuration of the vessel is being considered as part of the planning process. The Deputy has speculated that the new MRV will cost €200m. However it is the case that the cost of the MRV will only be known once the tender competition is concluded. This procurement is, of course, subject to the availability of funding within the overall Defence capital funding envelope. As the budgetary position for 2019 has not yet been finalised, it would be premature of me to discuss the Defence allocation in that regard. However, I remain very committed as Minister with Responsibility for Defence to continue to work to ensure that the financial resources are made available to the Defence organisation to ensure that the required equipment and infrastructure projects proceed in a diligent manner so as to enable the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service carry out their various roles, both at home and overseas.
