John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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49. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to deploy the Naval Service on a humanitarian mission in the Mediterranean; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23092/17]

Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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64. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence when the LÉ Eithne is due to depart to the Mediterranean; if there have been delays with regard to its dispatch; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23262/17]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Question No 49 and 64 together.

On 11 April 2017, the Government approved the return of a Naval vessel to the Mediterranean to undertake humanitarian search and rescue tasks.  The Government decision provided that the deployment is subject to finalisation of a bilateral arrangement with the Italian authorities in relation to the operation of the mission and the landing of persons rescued.

Standard practice, since the first deployment of the Naval Service to the Mediterranean, has been that the Naval Service vessels do not depart their base in Haulbowline until the relevant diplomatic procedures are completed, which normally takes four to six weeks. This is necessary to ensure that the requisite coordination arrangements with the Italian authorities and the arrangements for the landing of rescued migrants are in place before a vessel commences operational duties.

The requirement for completion of the diplomatic arrangements has been a feature of all Naval Service deployments to the Mediterranean to date and is well understood by all involved.

I wish to assure the Deputy, that there has been no delay in the deployment of a Naval vessel to support the Italian authorities in addressing the migrant crisis in the Mediterranean Sea. A date for deployment of L.É. Eithne will be determined when the diplomatic arrangements have been finalised.