Simon Coveney seeks Cabinet approval for resumption of Mediterranean rescue missions

Acting Minister for Defence Simon Coveney is to seek Cabinet approval today to resume the Naval Service’s humanitarian mission in the Mediterranean Sea and says he hopes to increase its strength to a nine-ship fleet in the next three to four years.

Mr Coveney said he will bring a paper on the mission to the Cabinet today and expects swift approval as acting Taoiseach Enda Kenny has already signalled his willingness to send ships back to help the Italians to rescue migrants.

Mr Coveney said there were approximately 800,000 refugees in camps close to the Libyan coast. Their numbers could be swelled following an EU-brokered agreement between Greece and Turkey, which is likely to close off migrant crossings of the Aegean Sea.

He said that his department officials and the Italian Department of Foreign Affairs were working on finalising a formal agreement which will see LÉ Róisín take up duty in the Mediterranean Sea shortly for a 12-week mission.

“An exchange of letters has been going on and we are in the final stages [of confirming an agreement].

“To a certain extent the migration crisis in the Mediterranean is changing rapidly. There are 800,000 refugees in camps in Libya, that’s not far off the population of Munster.”

The acting minister added that refugees coming through Turkey may now decide to try and get into southern Europe via Libya.

He said the Naval Service had performed admirably during last year’s operations and Ireland “has an obligation to go back” to help the Italians on the humanitarian mission.

“There is a clear indication that demand (by migrants) remain strong and they are willing to risk everything to get into unfit boats, risking their lives and the lives of their children. That’s the tragic reality. I make no apology for prioritising saving lives,” Mr Coveney said.

He said he realised the Mediterranean mission put a stress on Naval Service resources as crews still had to carry out fishery patrols, drugs patrols and search and rescue operations.

“The eight-ship navy was designed two decades ago for tasks we have in our own waters. I want to increase that to a nine-ship navy. It would give us greater flexibility to do these things [humanitarian missions].”

Volunteers help refugees and migrants disembark from a small vessel on the Greek island of Lesbos last year. It is hoped Irish Naval Service missions will be allowed to resume

Mr Coveney said he was hoping that within the lifetime of the next government a nine-ship fleet would become a reality.

“I think the next two years will still be financially difficult, but I’d hope we’d have the extra ship in the latter half of next five years,” he said.