Defence Forces ‘ready to deploy’ in Mediterranean

Defence Minister Simon Coveney has said the Defence Forces are ready to deploy in the Mediterranean to help with the growing migrant crisis. He has likened the predicament of today’s migrants to those who travelled in the coffin ships that left this country during the The Famine.

He believes Ireland should get involved in helping to prevent more tragedy on the sea corridor between north Africa and southern Europe. Plans had been drawn up to send a Naval Service ship to the Horn of Africa to aid EU anti-piracy patrols, especially off Somalia.

However, in light of the recent drowning of up to 900 people off the coast of Libya, Mr Coveney said the Government could reprioritise its anti-piracy mission and instead send a navy ship to help in a Mediterranean humanitarian mission.