Written answers

Wednesday, 29 March 2017

Department of Defence

Foreign Naval Vessels

Photo of Mick WallaceMick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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48. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the basis on which permission was granted to a US warship (details supplied) to dock in Cobh in March 2017; and if Defence Forces personnel were involved in supplying security to the warship. [15483/17]

Photo of Paul KehoePaul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Visits from foreign naval vessels are a long-standing and common practice in Ireland and worldwide. Foreign naval vessels are granted permission by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to visit Irish ports on condition that they meet the necessary policy stipulations. This requires that visiting naval vessels do not carry nuclear weapons and do not engage in military exercises. The vessel in question was in Ireland as part of a routine visit and was granted permission by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to dock on the basis that it met these criteria.

Security arrangements for such visits are a matter for An Garda Síochána. The roles assigned to the Defence Forces in the White Paper on Defence is the provision of Aid to the Civil Power which in practice means to assist, on request, An Garda Síochána. On this occasion, the Naval Service was not requested by An Garda Síochána to provide support with security arrangements.

The Naval Service provided a liaison officer facility for the USS Donald Cook, which is a standard courtesy afforded to all visiting naval vessels. In addition, the Naval Service hosted representatives of the crew of the vessel for a short courtesy visit to the Naval Base, again in accordance with standard protocols.

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