Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 10: To ask the Minister for Defence the costs of any visits outside of Irish waters by any of the Naval Service vessels during each of the past five years; the locations to which they sailed; and the purposes of these sailings. [6836/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Naval Service commits a number of its annual patrol days to foreign deployments. In 2011, 54 days out of a total of 1,480 patrol days were committed to visits outside Irish waters. Following discussions between the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, my Department, and the Naval Service, locations are considered on the basis of the optimum yield that can be derived for Ireland.

The tabular statement contains information on the locations visited by the Naval Service over the past five years and the purpose of these deployments. Details of the costs in relation to these visits are also included for 2010 and 2011, and the costs in relation to 2007 to 2009, inclusive, are currently being compiled. I will ensure that the outstanding data is forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Before I ask a supplementary question, I wish to echo the sentiments expressed by Deputy Calleary about the role of the Naval Service in Glandore which has brought home to the public the importance of the Naval Service and the credit due to the personnel for what they have undertaken in Glandore.

The Minister referred to the locations being chosen with regard to the optimum yield to be derived for Ireland. Are these optimum yields in terms of training or promotion? What criteria are applied during discussions with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade? Are the benefits of these trips solely for the Naval Service personnel or do they also aim to promote Ireland as a destination? Are these criteria taken into account when these decisions are made?

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I join with both Deputies in acknowledging the extraordinary work following the dreadful tragedy that occurred in Glandore. I refer not just to the work of the Naval Service but of all those individuals and agencies which have been engaged in dealing with a tragedy which we all wish had not happened.

To reply to the Deputy's question, the particular visits or voyages serve a range of purposes. For example, the voyages offer an ideal opportunity to reach out to the Irish diaspora around the world in an effort to attract inward direct investment to our economy. A naval ship offers the ideal platform for State agencies such as Enterprise Ireland to host receptions attended by local business interests where relationships can be developed. However, I am also cognisant of the costs of deploying the Naval Service to foreign locations and in 2011 I approved only those deployments which I believed yielded the optimum economic, diplomatic and cultural return.

I will give the Deputy some examples of the visits arranged, all of which are detailed in the tabular return. In 2007, before my time as Minister, the Naval Service undertook a visit to Oslo and Copenhagen for diplomatic purposes. Voyages and training visits were structured to facilitate high intensity training of Naval Service cadets and officers. Visits were made to Malaga, Burgas, Constanta and Valetta for diplomatic purposes. A visit was made to Zeebrugge in Belgium for cultural purposes. Further information is contained in the tabular statement. I refer to more recent visits such as a visit to Hamburg for diplomatic, cultural and economic purposes and which was requested by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade; a visit to Helsinki, St. Petersburg, Tallinin and Riga, for diplomatic, cultural and economic purposes at the request of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The Helsinki visit built on the success of a previous visit by the Naval Service to Helsinki in 2009. Tallinin was the European capital of culture in 2011 and Riga was visited on the way. There is a series of visits for a range of different purposes and they are either training-related or are related to diplomatic, cultural or economic activities or trade promotions in order to attract business to Ireland.