Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I assume the Deputy is referring to the cost of procuring a new Multi-Role Vessel (MRV) to replace the now decommissioned former flagship LÉ Eithne. Marine advisors have been appointed by my Department to support this procurement, and work is underway which will inform a public tender competition, in line with the Public Spending Code, in due course.

The cost of any potential new vessel will only be known once a tender competition has concluded. In the case of the MRV, a Prior Information Notice was published in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) last month to advise the market of my Department's intention to run a tender competition to procure a multi role vessel to replace the former flagship. The notice included an estimated value for the MRV of €300 million, which is based on an independent assessment, and was provided for guidance purposes only for the Prior Information Notice.

My Department is aware of the recent contract award for a new multi purpose vessel for the Portuguese Navy, however I am advised that the requirements of this vessel are not comparable with the capability requirements of the Multi Role Vessel planned for the Irish Naval Service.