VIDEO: Coveney committed to buying more ships for navy

Simon Coveney believes the Navy will take part in more overseas missions in the future, is committed to buying it more new ships and described the welcome home for LÉ Eithne as the "highlight" of his career as defence minister.

Apart from welcoming the crew, Mr Coveney was also on hand to see the arrival at Haulbowline Naval Base of the new €70m LÉ James Joyce.

The 90m ship was due to arrive last March, but the Government refused to take the vessel until some problems were ironed out by the ship’s Devon-based builders Babcock Marine, the same company that built the LÉ Samuel Beckett.

Firstly, the shaft connecting the engines to the propellers had not been properly aligned and when the speed was increased during sea trials, sources described the resultant noise as “unbearable”.

Then, during more recent seas trials, again in the Bristol Channel, oil was noticed leaking from LÉ James Joyce’s engine.

A crew, which had been dispatched via ferry from Rosslare to pick her up, was forced to return home when this problem was identified.

Mr Coveney said the vessel had “been tested very robustly during sea trials” and he was now “very happy it is in good working order”.

The ship — which is captained by Lieutenant Commander Brian Dempsey — is equipped with a front cannon with an 18km range, has a range of 6,000 nautical miles, a crew of 44 and is capable of launching drones and submersible vessels.

She is also equipped with three long-range RIBs (rigid inflatable boats).

Its crew will start training on it next week and the vessel is expected to be commissioned next month.

Meanwhile, work is well under way in Devon on a third ship, which is part of the €200m Government deal with Babcock Marine.

Mr Coveney said a name will be chosen for the third ship in the next few weeks and she is set for delivery next July.

He admitted the Navy was stretched a little on fishery protection while waiting for the LÉ James Joyce and having deployed ships in the Mediterranean. But he maintained the navy was “more than capable” of carrying out its workload.

Mr Coveney said the Naval Service was very likely to get involved in more overseas missions in the years ahead and he would look for operations “which were appropriate”.

“The fleet replacement programme will continue. We will be looking for more ships. Three more ships will have to be replaced in the next five to 10 years,” he said.

“Three [ships] in three years is not a bad record given our financial situation. But as the economy picks up I hope to increase the defence budget.”

He also said he would send LÉ Roisin to replace LÉ Niamh in the Mediterranean if the humanitarian situation warranted it.

“I am delighted to welcome home LÉ Eithne and her crew from their service with the humanitarian operation in the Mediterranean under the leadership of Commander Pearse O’Donnell,” said Mr Coveney.

“They have performed superbly throughout the deployment and have projected a positive image for our navy and our country during their time in the Mediterranean.”

He added that the crew exceeded expectations and said they got enormous support from families and friends back home.