Dáil debates

Wednesday, 2 June 2010

Priority Questions

Naval Service Vessels

1:00 pm

Photo of Jimmy DeenihanJimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 20: To ask the Minister for Defence the proposals he had made to ensure the deterrent impact in having ships on the ocean waves is maximised, in view of the reduction in the Naval Service patrol days; if he believes, that in view of the threat posed by drugs importation, and the costs it imposes on the health and justice budgets, that additional expenditure in preventing the importation of drugs would offer value for money and enable savings in Justice and Health; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23668/10]

Photo of Tony KilleenTony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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The Naval Service operates eight general purpose ships. All eight ships are involved in coastal and offshore patrolling and surveillance for the State in that part of the seas where State jurisdiction applies. The current exclusive fishery limits extend to 200 miles offshore and cover an area of 132,000 nautical square miles. The Naval Service currently patrols the entire 200 mile limit and periodically patrols beyond these limits to protect specific fisheries. These patrols are carried out on a regular basis and are directed to all areas of Irish waters as necessary. The number of patrol vessels on patrol in Irish waters at any one time varies between three and eight. The Naval Service is committed to having at least three vessels on patrol within the Irish exclusive economic zone at any one time. All vessels are multi-tasked in the sense that they also undertake general surveillance, security and other duties while on patrol.

Responsibility for the prevention of drug trafficking rests primarily with the Garda Síochána and Revenue Commissioners. However, the White Paper on Defence provides for a security role for the Naval Service to assist and support the civil authorities in this important work. Naval Service patrols at sea undoubtedly act as a deterrent in the fight against drug trafficking. However, increasingly this role is governed by intelligence-led operations and greater co-operation between national and international agencies.

Government measures to improve law enforcement in regard to drugs, including the establishment in 1993 of a joint task force involving the Garda Síochána, the Customs Service and Naval Service, have helped to maximise the effective use of Naval Service resources in combatting drug trafficking. There is close co-operation between the civil authorities and Naval Service in discharging this important mission.

Internationally, the establishment in 2007 of the Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre - Narcotics, MAOC-N, has led to a greater focus on intelligence exchange among countries in tackling large drug shipments by sea. MACO-N was set up by seven European countries and is designed as an international co-ordination force with access to national tasking agencies and requires participation and resources from all active members. The Garda Síochána and Customs Service have full time officers based at the centre in Lisbon. Irish Naval Service personnel travel to the centre when requested by the joint task force.

Intelligence sharing and international surveillance capabilities played key roles in Ireland's largest drug seizure. In 2008, the Naval Service intercepted a yacht off the coast of west Cork and seized cocaine with an approximate value of €675 million. I am, therefore, confident that the current level of naval patrols, in conjunction with the intelligence initiatives, are effective in preventing drug importation.

Photo of Jimmy DeenihanJimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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While I agree with the Minister that intelligence-led operations are very much the norm now, surely he will agree, as mentioned in his reply and previously on Question Time, that one must have a constant presence of naval vessels in our territorial waters to act as a real deterrent to people intent on smuggling drugs into the country. The reduction in patrol days in 2010 sends out the wrong message. We are down almost 200 patrol days since 2009. In 2005, there were 1,681 patrol days. Despite the large number of drugs which are obviously coming into this country from South America and other parts of the world, as evidenced in operation Seabight, the number of patrol days has been reduced to 1,480.

I met recently with members of the Naval Service who are concerned about recruitment to the service to ensure it has the personnel to fulfil its commitment and the Government's commitment to ship replacement. The Minister will be aware that the Emer, Aoife and Aisling are past their natural usage. Perhaps he will give a commitment in regard to the patrol days at sea and the replacement of the aforementioned vessels.

Photo of Tony KilleenTony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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While patrol days are an important element of surveillance, they are increasingly less so in the context of the type of monitoring possible, in particular when one takes account of the work of the Lisbon centre, the co-operation between the relevant countries and the advanced co-operation between the Garda Síochána, Customs Service and Naval Service. Surveillance in this regard is much improved, which is a factor in it being possible to operate with enhanced levels of capability even in the context of reduced patrol days, which arise from the strictures set by the economic situation we are in. The Naval Service, no more than any other element of Irish public service, is impacted on by this. Nevertheless, it is possible in the current climate to provide much enhanced levels of surveillance because of international co-operation and automatic identification systems on vessels, which means that it is possible to track from Haulbowline, which I visited last week or the previous week, the movement of all vessels in Irish waters and even prior to their reaching Irish waters. The level of intelligence available to the Navy makes the importance of patrolling considerably less than it would have been in the previous era. Nevertheless, we all acknowledge that the Navy has an important role to play and patrolling is an important element of that.

As Deputy Deenihan said, there is an issue regarding the replacement of the vessels. The economic situation has had an impact on this issue and it is being kept under review.

Photo of Jimmy DeenihanJimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Have the plans to replace the three vessels been shelved? Am I correct in understanding that is the case? The Minister's predecessor told us that the plans were at an advanced stage. Will the Minister clarify this and state if these plans have been put on the back burner and that the vessels will not be replaced in the immediate future? Will he give a commitment on a timeline for their replacement?

Photo of Tony KilleenTony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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Detailed and extensive contract negotiations are close to conclusion and at that point a decision will have to be made on the timing of the purchase of vessels and no more than any other element of public service that will have to be considered in the context of the current budgetary constraints. A considerable amount of work has been done on foot of the tender competition. I am not in a position to say at this point when a final decision will be made but it is clear that the question of replacing naval vessels is one that must be kept under review.