Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 75: To ask the Minister for Defence the number of patrolling days undertaken by Naval Service vessels in each year from 2005 to 2009; the planned number for 2010; if he has had discussions with the fishing industry or the Customs Authority regarding the implications for fishery protection and drug smuggling preventative measures for the planned reduction in patrolling days; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9194/10]

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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The Naval Service achieved the following patrol days in each year from 2005 to 2009:

As part of the Estimates process for 2010, the Department sought to implement measures which would bring about the savings or the equivalent thereof as identified in the Report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programme. As part of this process and to achieve a reduction in current expenditure, the Minister for Defence proposed a cut to the Naval Service patrol days in 2010. The planned number of patrol days for 2010 is 1,480.

The Naval Service has a concurrent multi-functional role as the State's primary seagoing agency. On any given patrol day the Naval Service can carry out a number of taskings on behalf of other state agencies such as the Sea Fisheries Protection Agency (SFPA), an Garda Síochána and the Customs Service of the Revenue Commissioners.

The SFPA is Ireland's competent authority for seafood safety and sea fisheries protection. Officials from my Department and the Naval Service are making arrangements to meet with the SFPA to discuss its priorities and how to optimise fishery patrol days to achieve those priorities having regard to the reduction in the over all number of patrol days.

Naval Service patrols at sea undoubtedly act as a deterrent in the fight against illegal fishing and in combating drug trafficking. However, increasingly these roles are governed by intelligence-led operations and greater co-operation between both national and international agencies.

I am therefore fully confident that the Naval Service will continue to meet all taskings assigned to them within the revised patrol pattern for 2010.

Speaker Continuing:

Text:

Question No. 76 answered with Question No. 67.