Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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208. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if there has been correspondence with the relevant authorities in the European Union Commission regarding Ireland's inability to fully crew all naval ships; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37442/20]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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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 defence and 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.  

There has not been any approach by any EU authority or body in relation to our national Naval Service fleet's size or manning levels.  National defence and security are a Member State competency.  

In relation to the Naval Service's sea-fishery protection role, the Sea-Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006 established the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) as the competent Authority for securing efficient and effective enforcement of sea fisheries protection legislation and the sustainable exploitation of marine fish resources from the waters around Ireland within Ireland's EEZ.

A Service Level Agreement is in place which underpins the relationship between the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority and the Defence Organisation.  This Agreement provides for the development of an annual Control Plan and for agreed reporting and training arrangements. Via the annual Control Plan the Naval Service makes a commitment to carry out a certain number of dedicated joint sea fisheries protection days in conjunction with fellow EU Member States. On an annual basis, including this year in the face of a number of challenges, the Naval Service continues to meet its EU commitments under the Control Plan and to provide a high level of national fishery patrol days.