Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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508. To ask the Minister for Defence if he will provide a progress report on the current mission of the LÉ EITHNE and its crew in the Mediterranean; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21722/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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At a special meeting of the European Council on 23 April 2015, the Taoiseach announced that Ireland was prepared to allocate a fully crewed Naval vessel to assist in the humanitarian crisis in the Mediterranean once the legal clarifications were received.  Following Government approval and agreement with the Italian authorities, the L.É. Eithne arrived in the South Central Mediterranean on 23 May 2015, to assist the Italian authorities in humanitarian search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean.

The role of the Irish Naval vessel is to provide a search and rescue capability and to undertake humanitarian rescue operations at sea in the Mediterranean. Assistance to persons in distress at sea is being provided in accordance with the applicable provisions of international conventions governing search and rescue situations. Co-ordination of search and rescue efforts and the provision of humanitarian assistance is being achieved through close co-operation with the Italian authorities.

L.É. Eithne is deployed on the high seas in international waters between Sicily and Libya, which is where most migrant activity and search and rescue incidents have occurred. The Irish naval vessel is working in co-ordination with European navies, including British, Italian and German naval forces. To date, L.É. Eithne has been involved in a number of rescue operations resulting in the rescue of approximately 1,160 migrants.

The despatch of the L.É. EITHNE to assist the Italian authorities in this humanitarian search and rescue operation highlights the Government's commitment to assist with efforts to prevent further tragedy and loss of life at sea.