John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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438. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of naval operations and patrols that have had to be cancelled between 2015 and 2022; the reason for the cancellation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38998/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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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 tasking 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. Notwithstanding some mechanical and staffing challenges being experienced, the Naval Service continues to carry out the roles assigned by Government.

Scheduled patrol days can be impacted by a range of factors including adverse weather conditions, unscheduled maintenance as well as staffing issues. In more recent times, personnel issues included the impact of Covid 19 on Naval Service patrols.

The following table sets out the material requested.