Third new ship to be announced for Navy

The chairman of the Oireachtas committee on Justice, Defence and Equality says he’s "confident" that an announcement will be made before the end of the year that the Naval Service is to get a third new ship.

David Stanton TD says it’s imperative that the Navy be given the best equipment possible because of its role in defending increased territorial waters which may harbour huge reserves in oil and gas.

The Naval Service recently acquired the new €50 million LÉ Samuel Beckett and delivery is expected next year of the LÉ James Joyce. However, five of the eight-strong fleet are ageing and have major asbestos issues.

Asbestos has been identified in the LÉ Ciara and LÉ Orla and both vessels remain ‘locked down’ at Naval Service headquarters in Haulbowline, Co Cork.

The potentially fatal substance has been discovered twice on the LÉ Aoife and there is concern that it may also be on her sister ship LÉ Aisling as well as on the LÉ Eithne.

PDFORRA, the organisation which represents enlisted Naval Service personnel, has publicly stated that the fleet it in crisis.

Mr Stanton said regardless of the asbestos issue, there are other reasons why the Navy needs newer vessels.

“Conditions in the Atlantic are getting harder all the time. Our control area (territorial waters) has also increased dramatically. We are now responsible for an area stretching out 1,000km off the west coast,” he said.

“It is also important to recognise that they work in dangerous circumstances and it is imperative we give them the best equipment we can. It’s a desire that there will be an announcement by the end of the year or maybe even sooner.”