Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy will appreciate that the mission will be kept under ongoing review in light of developments in the Mediterranean Sea. There has been a significant decline in the number of migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea in the last week or two. It is unclear whether this is due to the adverse weather conditions or some other factor, but the current plan is to rotate LE Róisínafter three months, which would be until some time around the end of July 2016. Deployment of a second vessel at that stage for a further three months will bring this up to the end of October. In the normal course, with the weather disimproving in the autumn, migrant numbers decline further. I had a briefing yesterday from the Department to the effect that there has been a drop in the number of migrants. However, I understand that on the Mediterranean Sea there is quite bad weather at the moment. That might contribute to the number of migrants rescued over the past while. I assure the Deputy that I, as Minister, very much appreciate the work that has been done, and we will keep the situation under constant review. I believe that all Members of the House, both Opposition and Government, very much appreciate the contribution that members of the Irish Naval Service have made in 2015 and in 2016 to date. They have clearly put the Irish naval service on the map.

See this speech in context