Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We have heard that various industries, from the pharmaceutical industry to the air industry to security companies to logistics companies, are head-hunting people out of the Naval Service. What we do not hear, and certainly what we do not see, is a corresponding intensity from the Government to be able to counter these challenges because they are very real.

Earlier when responding to Deputy Howlin the Tánaiste mentioned the LÉ Niamh. What he failed to mention is that the LÉ Niamhwill be placed into operational reserve on completion of a mid-life refit later this year. Two ships will remain in operational reserve until such time as the Naval Service has sufficiently regenerated suitably qualified and experienced personnel. This is included in the response to a parliamentary question I received from the Department yesterday.

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