Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There has been no expression of interest from the Ukraine Government in terms of a government-to-government transfer of these vessels between Ireland and Ukraine. It simply has not come up. There has been an expression of interest from elsewhere, which we are looking at, but there is no final decision yet. If we were to share those vessels with Ukraine, I do not think it would undermine Irish neutrality. These are not war-going vessels in reality; they are patrol vessels. I do not believe that issue will likely arise because the request has not come from Ukraine.

Deputy Stanton will know the significance of the LÉ Eithne in terms of his part of the world and the Verolme dockyard - I think it was the last ship built there - so it has a lot of resonance with that part of Cork Harbour. I do not have an exact date but I will obviously inform the Deputies when I have it. We are hoping to do this in the coming weeks if we can and if not in early September. Whenever I get clear recommendations as to the viability of what either Dublin Port or Cork County Council are offering, we will be in a position to make decisions at that stage. I have to wait for an independent recommendation to come back to me on that. As much as I would like to hand the LÉ Eithneto Cork County Council, we have to pursue the best option in terms of finance.

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