John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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59. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his views on claims that his Department has put pressure on Naval Service vessels to deploy despite safety concerns over staffing shortages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36692/20]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I can assure the Deputy that neither I, nor my Department, have put pressure on the Naval service to deploy vessels in a situation where the Naval Service has safety concerns over staffing shortages.

The Naval Service is the State's principal sea-going agency tasked with a variety of defence and other roles.  While 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, the Naval Service also carries out a number of non-fishery related tasks including a significant security role.

The Government has acknowledged the recruitment and retention issues that are currently impacting on Naval Service operations. The current shortfall is especially marked in specialist areas, where small numbers are more vulnerable to gaps.   Without giving rise to any compromise on safety, the impact of these shortfalls has resulted in greater pressure on individual members and units. There has also been an impact on the operational availability of the Naval Service, and an impact on the overall number of operational ships, which is a situation that has to be managed carefully.

The Deputy can be assured that no Naval Service vessel proceeds to sea unless they have sufficient personnel. There is a minimum manning level for all classes of ships currently in the Naval Service. This minimum manning level covers overall numbers required to sail and also numbers of technicians/specialists that are required on board. Defence Force's authorities have assured me that no Naval Service vessel proceeds to sea unless they have sufficient personnel as per the minimum manning.

I can also assure the Deputy and the House that there is no political pressure from within Government to send a ship to sea if it is not safe to do so.  The focus for me as Minister for Defence is returning the Naval Service to full capacity.

Notwithstanding current challenges being experienced, the Naval Service continues to carry out the roles assigned by Government, including fishery protection and maritime security operations.