Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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147. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the degree to which adequate staffing of aircraft and sea-going vessels remains available to ensure the meeting of emergencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4897/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Covid-19 is impacting across all sectors, including the Defence Forces. I would like to acknowledge and commend the work of the whole organisation, including both the Naval Service and the Air Corps, in maintaining key operations, including the ability to respond to emergencies, in the face of unprecedented disruptions across many areas of Irish life at this time.

To date, Covid-19 transmission levels and case numbers among members of the Defence Forces are broadly in line with current general population averages. Earlier this month there was a direct impact on Naval Service and Air Corps normal operations as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

In light of the outbreak of Covid-19 on a number of ships, in consultation with medical personnel and the HSE, Naval Service HQ are currently implementing a 'clean ship' policy which ensures that ships should be able to remain at sea for their full scheduled patrol.

In response to the recent impact of Covid-19 instances among Air Corps personnel, the Air Corps implemented a number of measures in order to safely continue with framework operations and maintaining aircraft at high readiness for various Maritime Defence and Security Operations, cargo and personnel transport and air ambulance as required.