Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As I already stated, the fishery protection centre located at the naval base in the Haulbowline is operated by the Naval Service on a 24-7 basis. I absolutely totally agree with the Deputy. One of the issues I found when I came into the Department was that prior to the Irish Naval Service deploying to the Mediterranean and getting television, radio and media coverage, many people in Ireland did not even know we had a Naval Service or the important work it does in securing our marine. I am not sure of the massive acres of area covered that we have in the Irish Sea and the north Atlantic. The Deputy is dead right and I absolutely take his points. The Government made a commitment in 2012 to invest €250 million in the ships replacement programme. I have named the ships which have been recently commissioned. We need a Naval Service that is fit for purpose.

It is more important that we protect our fisheries stock and that we have the infrastructure to be able to carry out that work.

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