Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)

While patrol days are an important element of surveillance, they are increasingly less so in the context of the type of monitoring possible, in particular when one takes account of the work of the Lisbon centre, the co-operation between the relevant countries and the advanced co-operation between the Garda Síochána, Customs Service and Naval Service. Surveillance in this regard is much improved, which is a factor in it being possible to operate with enhanced levels of capability even in the context of reduced patrol days, which arise from the strictures set by the economic situation we are in. The Naval Service, no more than any other element of Irish public service, is impacted on by this. Nevertheless, it is possible in the current climate to provide much enhanced levels of surveillance because of international co-operation and automatic identification systems on vessels, which means that it is possible to track from Haulbowline, which I visited last week or the previous week, the movement of all vessels in Irish waters and even prior to their reaching Irish waters. The level of intelligence available to the Navy makes the importance of patrolling considerably less than it would have been in the previous era. Nevertheless, we all acknowledge that the Navy has an important role to play and patrolling is an important element of that.

As Deputy Deenihan said, there is an issue regarding the replacement of the vessels. The economic situation has had an impact on this issue and it is being kept under review.

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