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.