Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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316. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the extent to which Naval Service personnel have been involved in rescue missions in the Mediterranean Sea over the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7763/17]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Irish Naval Service vessels began deployment on rescue mission in the Mediterranean Sea in 2015. Following a Government Decision on 12 May 2015, three Irish Naval Vessels, L.É. Eithne, L.É. Niamh and L.É. Samuel Beckett,were deployed to the Mediterranean between May and November 2015, to assist the Italian Authorities with the migrant crisis. During that period 8,592 people were rescued in the Mediterranean by Irish Naval Vessels. The Government, on 6 April 2016, approved the return of an Irish Naval vessel to undertake humanitarian search and rescue tasks in the Mediterranean. From May to December 2016, three Naval vessels L.É. Róisín, L.É. James Joyceand L.É. Samuel Beckettwere deployed to the Mediterranean. A total of 7,029 people were rescued by Irish Naval Vessels in 2016. Irish participation in the humanitarian mission in 2015 and 2016 resulted in the rescue of over 15,600 migrants. The question of further deployment to the Mediterranean in 2017 is currently under consideration.