Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

Naturally the Naval Service has a particular role to assist the civil powers and the role that the Naval Service plays is important. As far as I am aware there is no costing whereby the Naval Service seeks to recover what could be designated as an expense incurred by it in these activities. This is part of the role the Naval Service plays in serving the State and it carries out important work in this area. I share with the Deputy my admiration for the work it undertakes. We have many dedicated members of the Naval Service who carry out this work.

The Deputy has made a supposition with regard to fishing vessels detained by the Naval Service. If he examines the tabular statement given covering 2009 and 2010 as a full year and to date in 2011, the Deputy might be surprised to discover that top of the list are Irish naval vessels, 11 of which were detained, second are UK naval vessels of which there were nine and third are Spanish naval vessels.

See this speech in context