Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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13. To ask the Minister for Defence if he envisages that Ireland will dispatch another naval vessel on humanitarian missions after the LE Samuel Beckett mission ends on 30 November 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34257/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Following a Government Decision on 12 May 2015, an Irish Naval Vessel, L.É. Eithne, was deployed to the Mediterranean on 16 May, 2015, to assist the Italian Authorities with the collective effort to save lives in the Mediterranean. When L.É. Eithne completed her deployment in July 2015, she was replaced by L.É. Niamh. L.É. Samuel Beckett, which is currently deployed, replaced L.É. Niamh in the operation and commenced patrolling duties on the waters between Libya and Sicily on 01 October 2015. On Monday 05 October L.É. Samuel Beckett rescued 242 migrants. L.É. Samuel Beckett is the third ship to join the mission, following the successful deployments of L.É. Eithne and L.É. Niamh which rescued a combined total of 7,397 migrants. Tragically, 39 bodies were also recovered by L.É. Niamh. While the duration of the deployment of L.É. Samuel Beckett is subject to ongoing assessment of the crisis, it is intended that this rotation, up to the end of November 2015, will complete the Naval Service’s participation in the mission.

The deployment of naval assets to support Italy in addressing the humanitarian crisis in the Mediterranean has been very significant. Ireland’s participation has been warmly welcomed and positively endorsed by the Italian authorities who appreciate the costs and demands of such deployments. 

The question of a further deployment at some stage in the future will be considered in the context of the ongoing situation in the Mediterranean and the overall EU response thereto, the demands on the Defence Forces, our overseas commitments and available resources.