Navy sends LÉ Eithne to tackle migrants crisis

The Cabinet has approved sending LÉ Eithne on a mission to prevent migrants from drowning in the Mediterranean.

Wed, 13 May, 2015 - 01:00

Sean O’Riordan

The vessel is expected to leave its base in Haulbowline in Cork Harbour on Saturday.

Defence Minister Simon Coveney’s request for the mission was approved by his ministerial colleagues yesterday.

It will be the first time in the Navy’s history that it has been involved in such an overseas operation.

Mr Coveney said the Navy hopes to prevent a human catastrophe, similar to the coffin ships which left these shores in the 1800s, and stem the migrants crisis in the Mediterranean which has already led to the drowning in recent weeks of 1,750 people — 20 times the amount who lost their lives in the corresponding period last year.

The ship’s role will be to save migrants and transport them to Italian vessels or ports where they will be temporarily housed before being given the option of seeking asylum in the EU’s 28 member states.

Mr Coveney last night said that a memorandum of understanding on Ireland’s role had already been agreed by the Italian department of defence, but it needed to be rubberstamped by the Italian government. He said he expects this will happen by Friday.

Despite an EU promise to grant asylum-seekers refuge in member states, the British government has said it will not take any of them.

Mr Coveney said Ireland would “take a generous approach” to their plight which would be “proportionate” to this country’s size.

He said the Department of Foreign Affairs and Department of Justice are working on the logistics of the EU plan for rehousing the migrants.

It is expected that LÉ Eithe will carry out a two-month tour of duty in the Mediterranean and will then be replaced by another Naval Service vessel for the remainder of the summer, the peak period for human trafficers who smuggle migrants.

Mr Coveney said he hoped to be at the Navy’s Haulbowline headquarters to personally see off the LÉ Eithne and her crew.

“I want to be there to give them a good send-off. I think it will happen on Saturday, but by next Monday at the latest,” he said.