€500k cost of South American naval trip under fire

THE chairman of the Dáil Public Accounts Committee is to ask the Department of Defence why it has sanctioned a naval ship to undertake 12-week diplomatic trip to South America, which will cost an estimated €500,000.

Deputy Bernard Allen said he would be seeking an explanation from the Department of Defence officials the next time they come before his committee.

The FG deputy said, despite the cost in times of recession, he was concerned one of the navy’s newest ships will not be available for coastal patrols against drug importers and illegal fishing.

It’s not the first time a navy ship has acted as a floating hospitality venue on diplomatic missions. However, some people have questioned if such spending is warranted during a recession.

The LÉ Niamh has been lined up to sail to South America next May as part of a diplomatic mission to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the independence of Mexico, Chile, Colombia and Argentina from Spain.

The Department of Defence said the navy had been invited by Argentina to participate in the celebrations.

The “father of the Argentine Navy”, Admiral William Brown was born in Foxford, County Mayo in 1777. After emigrating to America and then fighting in the Napoleonic Wars, Brown joined the battle to free Argentina from colonial rule and in 1814 led a small fleet which captured Montevideo from the Spanish.

He died on March 3, 1857, and was buried a national hero.

The IDA, Enterprise Ireland and An Bord Bia are to use the LÉ Niamh as a floating hospitality venue in the hope of winning new business in South America.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has said it will also use the nine-year-old vessel to host diplomatic meetings with the aim of furthering better relations with the four countries.

Mr Allen said he was concerned that the ship would beoff the patrol roster for quite some time.

“It would be better employed protecting our fisheries and an almost porous coastline against drug smugglers,” said Mr Allen.