LE Eithne heads for Mediterranean after Cabinet signs off on humanitarian patrol

The Cabinet has signed off on sending an Irish Navy vessel to the Mediterranean.

The LE Eithne will be sent to the region in the coming weeks on a humanitarian patrol.

The decision follows talks among EU leaders in Brussels two weeks ago on how to deal with the ongoing migration crisis.

It is not yet known how many Navy personnel will be on board the vessel, or how long it will spend in the region.