Barry Ward (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As we look at the expansion of the Defence Forces that has come following the report on its future by the Commission on the Defence Forces, it is appropriate for us to have a debate on how we can go forward with that, in particular from the point of view of the provision of services around the country. I had the privilege of joining the captain and crew of the LE William Butler Yeats in The Hague on St. Patrick's Day. There are very few groups within Ireland that act for the country of whom we can be as proud as we are of the Naval Service. One of the joys of the expansion of the service is that we have obtained two coastal patrol vessels from New Zealand to act as part of the Naval Service. They will patrol the Irish Sea, among other areas.

It is appropriate we look at where future bases should be located. I have always thought that Dún Laoghaire is the perfect place for a naval base to patrol the Irish Sea. Geographically, it is right at the centre of the east coast. More importantly, Dún Laoghaire Harbour, which is an historic harbour, that has been there since the 1830s, is accessible at all points and times of the tide, which is not true of every port. It is not a busy port in the way the ports of Dublin and Drogheda are. There is not a lot of commercial traffic in or out of it, so it allows very easy access for a Naval Service vessel to and from the Irish Sea. It also has accessibility, because it has a train station, so it links people from an extensive area up and down the east coast who could commute to a place like Dún Laoghaire to serve on that vessel. In addition, the harbour itself has capacity physically within its waters but also in terms of the land adjacent to the harbour. There is a lot to recommend a place like Dún Laoghaire, which has such an important maritime heritage as well, with the Commissioners of Irish Lights, the Irish Sailing Association, and the National Maritime Museum based there, as well as the water sports and sailing centres. It seems to me to be a very appropriate place. As we look towards expanding the Defence Forces, it is the perfect place to have a base for patrolling the Irish Sea, patrolling our waters, and protecting our borders.