Why don’t we just escort immigrants from Africa?

The absurdity of the mission assigned to the Irish naval vessel, LE Eithne, is relayed to us almost daily.

Contrary to the traditional, accepted role of the defence forces in repelling an invasion, the brief to Europe’s navies is to collect illegal immigrants who have paid money to be smuggled here and to complete their transportation.

These ‘rescues’ are happening not in European territorial waters, but off the coastline of north Africa.