Written answers

Tuesday, 22 September 2020

Photo of Holly CairnsHolly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

380. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if a Naval Service patrol to be carried out by the LÉ Niamh was cancelled due to a crew shortage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25204/20]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Deputy will appreciate that, for operational and security reasons, it would not be appropriate to disclose details of the operational deployment of any individual vessel in the Naval Service.

It is also important to say that ships do not sail from time to time for various reasons, including weather, mechanical reasons and personnel issues. The Naval Service continues to carry out the roles assigned by Government, including fishery protection, security operations, and over the recent past, support to HSE in the fight against Covid 19.

Photo of Holly CairnsHolly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

381. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will provide details of cancelled Naval Service patrols and activities between 1 January 2015 and 1 August 2020, including the reason for the cancellation in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25205/20]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Naval Service is the State's principal sea-going agency and is tasked with a variety of defence and other roles. The primary 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. The Naval Service is tasked with patrolling all Irish waters from the shoreline to the outer limits of the Exclusive Economic Zone. These patrols are carried out on a regular and frequent basis and are directed to all areas of Irish waters as necessary.

Scheduled patrol days can be impacted by a range of factors including adverse weather conditions, unscheduled maintenance as well as staffing issues. The table below sets out the number of patrol days completed in the past five years against the number of scheduled patrol days cancelled.

Year 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Number of Fishery Protection Patrol Days carried out 709 1068 1091 1076 1036 429*
Number of Non-Fishery Protection Patrol Days carried out 495 308 317 221 25 220*
Scheduled Patrol Days Lost: Mechanical Reasons 276 104 72 170 42 -
Scheduled Patrol Days Lost: Personnel Issues - - - 63 50 12**

*31st August 2020

**1st August 2020

Notwithstanding some mechanical and staffing issues being experienced, the Naval Service continues to carry out the roles assigned by Government, including fishery protection, security operations, and support to HSE in the fight against Covid 19.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.