Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 80: To ask the Minister for Defence if he will report on the journey of the LE Eithne to Argentina; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17129/06]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Naval Service flagship LE EITHNE sailed from the Naval Base in Haulbowline, Co. Cork, on 8th of February this year to visit Argentina, on foot of an invitation from the Argentine Government, where it participated in celebrations to commemorate the memory of Foxford-born Admiral William Brown, the founder of the Argentine Navy. LE EITHNE also visited Montevideo in Uruguay and Rio De Janeiro and Fortaleza in Brazil. Over 6,000 people visited the ship. In all, the ship hosted or participated in over 150 separate events of both a cultural and trade-related nature.

Much of LE EITHNE's time was dedicated to a humanitarian programme. Having received donations of toys from a broad cross-section of Irish institutions, organisations and citizens such as the Archdiocese of Dublin, Higher Education Authority, Royal St George Yacht Club and Cork University Hospital, as well as a generous cash donation from the Naval Association, the ship's company hosted hundreds of sick, deprived and abused children.

While in Argentina and building on its links with Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin, the ship's company visited seriously ill children in a number of paediatric hospitals and hosted many children on board. A delegation from Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin travelled to Buenos Aires in conjunction with the visit. A large diesel generator carried from Ireland by the ship was installed by the crew in a remote school (named for Admiral Brown) accessible only by boat several hundred kilometres up the Parana river.

While in Brazil and working with the Non Governmental Organisation 'Task Brazil' LE EITHNE hosted the street children of Rio De Janeiro on board ship while the ship's crew, including electricians, carpenters and engineers, carried out essential repairs to their shelter and prepared a vegetable garden at the NGO's farm. Working through the Irish Catholic Missionary network the crew of LE EITHNE linked up with the Redemptorist missionaries in Fortaleza and helped in the restoration of housing for the poor. The visit underlined the very strong potential role of the Naval Service in trade promotion and in generating a positive image of Ireland.

The men and women of LE EITHNE impressed all as professional sailors and excellent representatives of Ireland. A very positive dimension of the visit to Argentina was the focus it provided for the Argentine-Irish community who enthusiastically participated in the social events organised by LE EITHNE, the Embassy and the community itself. The visit and associated events served to boost the sense of Irish identity among the community. The ship returned to Ireland on 7th of April.