Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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854. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the extent to which Naval personnel here have been involved in rescue missions in the Mediterranean over the past four years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32989/17]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Following a Government decision on 12 May 2015, the Irish Naval Vessel, LE Eithne, was deployed to the Mediterranean on 16 May, 2015, to assist the Italian Authorities with the migrant crisis. Two further vessels were deployed, LE. Niamhand LE Samuel Beckett, and the deployment was completed on 29 November 2015. During the period May to November 2015, a total of 8,592 persons were rescued in the Mediterranean by Irish Naval Vessels.

On 6 April 2016, the Government approved the return of an Irish Naval vessel to undertake humanitarian search and rescue tasks in the Mediterranean. In total, three Irish Naval vessels were deployed during the period May to December 2016, LE Róisín, LE James Joyce and LE Samuel Beckettand a total of 7,029 people were rescued by these Naval Vessels in 2016.

On 11 April 2017, the Government once again approved the return of an Irish Naval vessel to the Mediterranean to undertake humanitarian search and rescue tasks as part of a bilateral arrangement with the Italian authorities. LE Eithnecommenced patrolling on 31 May 2017 and, to date, has rescued a total of 1,187 people and provided assistance to a further 347 people.

Naval personnel were not involved in rescue operations in the Mediterranean in 2014.