Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Again, those specifications are being worked on but the multi-role nature of the vessel is important. Drug interdictions generally are intelligence-led. They have been extremely successful in recent years, notwithstanding all the negative commentary. The bottom line is that the Defence Forces, including the Naval Service, the Air Corps and the Army Ranger Wing, worked exceptionally well together and were instrumental in a successful and highly publicised seizure of the largest cocaine haul in the history of the State from the vessel MV Matthew in September last year. An Garda Síochána, of course, and Revenue worked with them as well. Yes, a multi-role vessel would give extra capacity, safety and backup without question. Given what we discussed earlier in committee today, the whole area of maritime surveillance and indeed security as regards subsea cables and so on, clearly it can be deployed in different roles.

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