Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Socialist Party)
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426. To ask the Minister for Defence the total number of migrants the LE Eithne has rescued from the Mediterranean Sea. [28586/15]

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Socialist Party)
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427. To ask the Minister for Defence the countries of origin of the migrants the LÉ Eithne has rescued from the Mediterranean Sea. [28587/15]

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Socialist Party)
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428. To ask the Minister for Defence if he will report on the medical assistance provided to migrants rescued from the Mediterranean Sea by the LE Eithne; if there were common medical problems faced by the migrants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28588/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 426 to 428, inclusive, together.

Following Government approval, the LE Eithnearrived in the South Central Mediterranean on 23 May 2015 to assist the Italian authorities in humanitarian search and rescue operations.

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 relevant Italian authorities. The LE Eithne, which has completed its deployment, and is en routeback to Ireland, was involved in 22 rescue operations resulting in the rescue of 3,377 migrants. Details regarding the countries of origin of the migrants rescued by the LE Eithneare listed in the tabular statement below. These figures have been compiled on the basis of information provided by the rescued persons themselves and have not been corroborated by documentation or any other authority. TheLE Niamhhas now deployed to the Mediterranean to continue Ireland’s contribution to the humanitarian search and rescue mission. The LE Niamhwill be 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.

Following their rescue, once on board the Irish naval vessel, migrants are screened by medics. The predominant ailments were those associated with sun burn and dehydration. Other migrants received treatment for fractures and chemical burns. All migrants received food, water, clothes and foil blankets as necessary. The migrants are then either transported to a port in Italy, or transferred to another international naval vessel, as advised by the Italian authorities.