Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

With regard to the RDF, 14 days notice is required for any payment. The Chairman said they were waiting for up to a month and I will examine that. The Secretary General has informed me that he is working with his military colleagues to speed up the payment process. I will follow up the issue.

I am working closely with the chairman of the Red Cross, former Minister, Pat Carey, on the Red Cross Bill. A number of specific issues have to be addressed in the legislation. I have met Red Cross officials on a number of occasions about it and they would like it to be introduced as well. I will get an update of where we stand on the other two Bills and I will come back to the Chairman on that.

In 2014, there were 1,127 patrol days; in 2015, some 1,204; and in 2016, some 1,326. With regard to fishery boardings, there were 936 in 2014; some 1,079 in 2015; and some 1,249 in 2016.

The strength of the Naval Service is 1,090. I assure the Chairman that a number of new ships that were commissioned in the past two years are participating in the rescue mission in the Mediterranean. We are getting full usage out of those ships.