Barry Ward (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The capital of Ireland, indeed. However, I am sure he will recognise that the maritime capital is, in fact, Dún Laoghaire. Dún Laoghaire has a great maritime heritage. We obviously have the National Maritime Museum in Dún Laoghaire but the harbour itself, which recently celebrated its bicentenary, is a tremendously important asset strategically and historically. At the moment, it is less used than it could be. Since the departure of the ferry services, there is no substantial commercial activity within the harbour with the possible exception of Irish Lights, which covers the whole of the island of Ireland in maintaining lighthouses, buoys and other nautical markers that protect mariners. There is a real opportunity for the Naval Service to put a base of operations in Dún Laoghaire. The port is accessible at all hours from a tidal perspective. It never dries out. All naval ships can go in and out. It does not have substantial commercial traffic going in and out so there is no difficulty with interrupting naval operations. As we expand naval operations, it makes perfect sense to locate a naval base of operations in Dún Laoghaire Harbour, which is an underused State asset and an available historic place that is connected with the navy in very many respects.TheLÉ James Joycewas commissioned and named in Dún Laoghaire Harbour. I was at that ceremony, however many years ago it took place. As we expand the Naval Service, there is an opportunity for the Defence Forces to create a base with capacity that is located appropriately, which is right at the centre of our east coast and allows us to patrol a vast volume of water in a very effective way. I ask that consideration of the future of the Defence Forces will involve a serious examination of the possibility of establishing a proper base of naval operations in Dún Laoghaire, with one of the two new coastal patrol vessels we have acquired from the New Zealand navy being based there. It would effect real control in its patrols of the Irish Sea from Dún Laoghaire.