Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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29. To ask the Minister for Defence if he will report on the role the Defence Forces are playing in the migrant crisis in the Mediterranean; and his future plans for this role. [34385/15]

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. L.É. Niamh replaced L.É. Eithne in July 2015 on completion of her deployment. L.É. Niamh has since been replaced by L.É. Samuel Beckett which commenced operations in the Mediterranean on 01 October. 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.

L.É. Samuel Beckett, which is currently deployed, commenced patrolling duties on the waters between Libya and Sicily on 01 October 2015. To date L.É. Samuel Beckett has rescued 242 migrants. L.É. Eithne and L.E. Niamh rescued 3,377 and 4,020 migrants respectively during their deployments. 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 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.

The success of the operations carried out to date by L.É. Eithne, L.É. Niamh and L.É. Samuel Beckett involving the rescue of 7, 639 migrants demonstrates clearly the value of Ireland’s participation in this important humanitarian response.