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

The new vessels are inshore patrol vessels that can be crewed with fewer people than the ships they are replacing. They are much more efficient and much more modern vessels. I hope they will arrive long before this time next year. I hope to see them in the first quarter, perhaps in January or February. They will primarily be based in the Irish Sea. They will certainly be based there in the winter months because that is what they are most suited for. The gas pipelines between the UK to Ireland, which transfer gas from Scotland to Ireland, are in that area.

On current subsea capability, the Naval Service retains certain capabilities that allow for underwater search and surveying including the underwater remotely operated vehicle and a magnetometer system. As part of the ongoing development of capabilities, further capabilities that will enhance the Naval Service's undersea situational awareness, such as a multibeam echo-sounder system, are also being developed. We are developing capacity in that area but, in the meantime, we will be increasing patrols at sea and in the air to observe what is going on. We will also be talking to the infrastructure owners regarding the measures they have taken because some of them already have private sector surveillance capacity. We will continue to talk to the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications to make sure we are doing what we can.

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