Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

To reiterate, a number of organisations, including Dublin Port and the local authorities in Cork and Limerick indicated their interest in taking the LÉ Eithne as a museum piece or a tourist attraction, following her decommissioning in 2022. However, despite extensive engagements and lengthy discussions and inspections all these parties withdrew. Dublin Port commissioned two reports in addition to a ship survey. A decision has been made that the ship will be decommissioned.

Earlier in 2024, following a competitive process, officials from the Department of Defence signed a contract with a Belgian company, Galloo, to recycle the three ships. This company is contracted to remove the ships from Cork harbour and tow them to the ship breakdown yard in Ghent, Belgium for recycling in line with the EU ship recycling regulation. The company is on the EU list of approved ship recycling facilities so we can be confident that it will deal with the ships appropriately in an environmentally friendly manner. Preparatory work has been done on the ships in Doyle Shipping Group's dockyard in Cork in advance of recycling. Final preparations are under way and it is planned that the ships will be towed to Belgium in the coming weeks, weather permitting.

I understand the Deputy's disappointment. My understanding is that every effort was made was to try to find a lasting home for the LÉ Eithne. As the Deputy stated correctly, the LÉ Eithne has a proud history. I am here to respond to the Topical Issue on behalf of the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence and that is the answer that is set out in front of me.

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