Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

388. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if a contract to replace the LÉ Eithne will be put out to tender before the end of 2021. [43882/21]

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

The White Paper on Defence set out an ambitious programme of capital investment in the Naval Service including the replacement of LÉ Eithne with a Multi Role Vessel. This project is an important developmental project and indicative of the Government’s commitment to on-going investment and development of defence capabilities. The project is included in the Government's National Development Plan as a major capital project and is an important element of the Defence Equipment Development Plan. It is the Government’s intention  that this new vessel will provide a flexible and adaptive capability for a wide range of maritime tasks, both at home and overseas.  

Following a public tender competition, Marine Advisors have recently been appointed to support the procurement of a Multi Role Vessel. This work is now underway and will inform a public tender competition in due course.