Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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289. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 815 of 20 September 2017, the cost of the trip, including fuel, pay and allowances for the crew of the ship in view of the fact the ship was not available to carry out its duties here, for example, fishery protection while it was on this trip to London. [41155/17]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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As I outlined to the Deputy in my response to Parliamentary Question Number 815 of 20 September 2017, the Naval Service vessel LÉ Samuel Beckett attended the biannual Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) exhibition in London earlier this month. The attendance of LÉ Samuel Beckett at the event, which ran from Tuesday 12 September 2017 to Friday 15 September 2017, was an opportunity to portray, to a wide audience, the considerable level of commitment and investment made in recent years towards protecting and safeguarding Irish territorial waters, by showcasing the success of the Offshore Patrol Vessel design and build capabilities.

LÉ Samuel Beckett departed the Naval Base in Haulbowline on 8 September, and carried out fishery protection and maritime surveillance duties while in the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) en route to the UK. The vessel was berthed alongside the DSEI exhibition centre from 10 September until 16 September, when she departed London for Haulbowline, carrying out further fishery protection and maritime surveillance duties within the EEZ while en route to Cork. The estimated fuel costs for the duration are €56,600.

LÉ Samuel Beckett had a crew complement of 49 personnel comprising officers and other ranks while berthed alongside the exhibition centre. The estimated pay and allowances associated with these crew numbers in respect of the visit are €57,000 calculated on a pro-rata basis. The Deputy should note that these pay and allowances do not represent an additional cost arising from the attendance of the ship at the DSEI, as this cost would have arisen regardless.