Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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69. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he is satisfied that the Naval Service has sufficient operationally deployable personnel and resources to carry out sea fisheries protection duties effectively in view of the decline in sightings and boardings to July 2018 relative to previous years. [40028/18]

Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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79. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if the Naval Service has sufficient capacity in terms of personnel to fulfil its sea fisheries protection duties as well as maintaining the participation of a ship in Operation Sophia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40029/18]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 69 and 79 together.

As the Deputy may be aware, the main day to day role of the Naval Service is to provide a fishery protection service in accordance with the State's obligations as a member of the European Union.

To this end, the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) has a Service Level Agreement with the Department of Defence. This is intended to ensure efficient enforcement of sea-fisheries law at sea through the support provided by the Naval Service and the Air Corps. In accordance with this Agreement, the 2018 Annual Control Plan includes a target range of between 1,090 and 1,267 patrol days. The Naval Service is working in close cooperation with the SFPA in relation to a re-emphasis of a risk based approach to fishery protection to better utilise national resources - that is, delivering fewer boardings but of a much higher quality. The detention of a Spanish registered fishing Vessel recently for alleged infringements relating to the removal of shark fins is one example of this approach working.

The Naval Service deployment to the Mediterranean is factored into the overall Patrol Plan. Notwithstanding some mechanical and staffing restrictions experienced at present, the Naval Service continues to fulfil all roles assigned by Government, including fishery protection, security operations and other policies, including a deployment in the Mediterranean.