It comes after two decorated former senior Naval Service officers called for Mr Kehoe's resignation over an on-going recruitment and retention crisis in the Defence Forces which has had a knock-on impact on ships going to sea.

Two decorated former senior Naval Service officers have called on Paul Kehoe, the junior defence minister, to resign.

Naval service ships operating in the Mediterranean Sea could soon be adopting a more robust role in the fight against Islamic terrorists and people-smugglers.

COMIC TV presenter Graham Norton is giving himself a €1.6 million Christmas present — a period seaside pile in his native West Cork.