Alan Shatter (Minister, Department of Justice, Equality and Defence; Dublin South, Fine Gael)

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The Naval Service conducts routine maritime surveillance patrols on a daily basis throughout Ireland’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The primary day-to-day tasking of the Naval Service is to provide a fishery protection service in accordance with the State’s fishery protection legislation and our obligations as a member of the European Union. A strategy for the replacement of Naval Service Offshore Patrol Vessels is currently in train. A contract was signed in October 2010, with Babcock Marine for the provision of two new offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) for the Naval Service. The first ship to be named LE Samuel Beckett is scheduled for delivery in the coming weeks. The second ship to be named LE James Joyce will follow in January 2015. The acquisition of these modern new vessels, combined with a continuous process of refurbishment and repair on the other vessels in the fleet, will ensure that the operational capability of the Naval Service is maintained at a satisfactory level. There are no plans to purchase an aircraft carrier for the Naval Service.