Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I accept that these decisions are matters for Government but my point is that Government acted on the advice and recommendation of Dr. Mellett. When he gave his advice and recommendation, did he tell the Government of the manpower and staffing crisis that existed at the time? The Naval Service should feel bound to deliver on the service level agreement it signed with the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority because this is a key responsibility. If boardings are going to be down by between 15% and 20%, the service will be in breach of the agreement. It was the director of corporate affairs of the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority who sent us the letter, which stated that the organisation had serious concerns about staffing.

I had two questions for Dr. Mellett. Did he advise Government that Operation Sophia and the move to a nine-ship service were for it to decide on, but that the Naval Service could not do it because it could not even do its real job, which is reflected in the figures? The service has a responsibility to the authority under the contract the two signed but it seems to fall well short of that.