LACK OF NAVY VESSELS ‘EXPOSES IRISH COAST’
ALMOST half of Irish navy vessels are in dry dock in a move that has left fish stock on the Irish coast dangerously unprotected, a TD has warned.
The country’s fleet amounts to just nine ships – with four out of operation. Two vessels have been parked up for operational reasons, another is being serviced while a fourth has been damaged by fire. In a further blow to the navy, the top brass has complained of a falling number of sailors to man the vessels in service. It comes amid fears that a growing number of EU vessels will turn to Irish waters as Brexit has cut back on fishing in UK-owned sea.
Labour TD Ged Nash pointed out the problem after Defence Minister Simon Coveney revealed to him that there were just five ships in the Naval Service that are operationally ready to put to sea if required. Mr Coveney said: ‘There are five operational ships that remain available at present.
‘In July 2019, the Naval Service reduced its operational flotilla to six ships, placing two ships on operational pause, while a third ship entered a mid-life re-fit programme.’
He added that a fire on board the LÉ Niamh last October ‘has impacted on the ship’s availability for operations from Quarter 4 last year’.
In a reply to concerns, Mr
Coveney said: ‘For operational and security reasons, it would not be appropriate to disclose details of the operational deployment of any individual vessel now or in the future.’
The reduction in the fleet came amid ongoing concerns over the difficulties the armed forces have had in retaining and recruiting staff.
In 2019, the LÉ Eithne and the LÉ Orla were sent to dry dock due to a staffing crisis that left the Navy 20% below the minimum headcount number of workers.
A Defence spokesperson said: ‘The Naval Service maintains a presence at sea at all times.’