Cathal Berry (Kildare South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I very much welcome this proposed project for sure. The LÉ Eithne needs to be replaced. That is an absolute certainty.

Perhaps touching on what Deputy Ó Snodaigh said earlier on this morning, the LÉ Eithne was built in the Tánaiste's home county of Cork. It is a pity we cannot build more equipment here in this country because, as Deputy Ó Snodaigh said, ethical procurement is important. If we want to be assured of the traceability of equipment, the so-called bench to trench, we should probably be looking at setting up some kind of companies that can make some of the equipment that we need for ourselves and we can be sure of their credentials. I would emphasise, of course, that there is a shipyard on this island, in Belfast, namely, Harland & Wolff, and I very much hope that it applies for this tender when it is published.

It still looks as though we are talking about it being a good few years down the tracks before this ship comes into service. Is there an indicative date, or even year, of when we would expect this ship to come into naval service?

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