Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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22. To ask the Minister for Defence given recent events in County Mayo (details supplied), if he will ensure that in future there will be an automatic Navy response following a request from An Garda Síochána; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34501/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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In the case of the events referred to, the position is that on the afternoon of Tuesday, 15 September last the Naval Service received an Aid to the Civil Power request from An Garda Síochána for assistance in the search for the missing person in question. The Naval Service was unable to respond immediately due to the unavailability of divers at the time of the request. However, An Garda Síochána was advised that the Naval Service would keep the matter under review and on the morning of Thursday, 17 September, a diving team was dispatched to the area. The team supported the search from the afternoon of 17 September until it was stood down on 22 September in consultation with An Garda Síochána and the Irish Coast Guard. In terms of providing an automatic Naval Service response, it is important to note that primary responsibility for search and rescue rests with the Irish Coast Guard and not the Naval Service. The primary role of the Naval Service Diving Section is to support Naval and other Defence Forces operations. However, I would like to assure the Deputy that the Naval Service makes every effort, and will continue to make every effort, to deploy as quickly as possible to assist in maritime search operations following a request for support from An Garda Síochána or the Irish Coast Guard.

Finally, on my own behalf and on behalf of my Government colleagues, I wish to express our deepest sympathy to the family and friends of the deceased in these most tragic circumstances.