29/04/2016

Irish Naval Vessel To Assist In Mediterranean Humanitarian Crisis

Irish naval vessel, L.É. Róisín, is to be deployed to the mediterranean to assist in the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region.

The Minister for Defence, Mr. Simon Conveney, announced that L.É. Róisín will depart Haulbowline on Sunday 01 May to assist the Italian authorities in the search and rescue activities in the Mediterranean.

Earlier this month the Government approved the dispatch of an Irish Naval vessel to the Mediterranean.

Following the government decision the Minister said: "The humanitarian crisis arising in the Mediterranean as a result of the Migrant crisis continues to be of great concern to Ireland and to our EU partners."

L.É. Róisín will be dispatched with a crew comprising 60 personnel of the Permanent Defence Force under the command of her captain, Lieutenant Commander Ultan Finegan.

The Government anticipate that the Naval Service will be deployed in the Mediterranean until mid-July, dependent on the operational demands and requirements arising, and may then be followed by further deployments.

The Minister added: "I believe that we should continue to support Italy in a practical manner as far as possible and the Italian authorities have indicated that ongoing support is welcome.

"L.É. Róisín is ready to continue the remarkable work carried out by L.É. Eithne, L.É. Niamh and L.É. Samuel Beckett in 2015. During the course of their deployments a total of 8,592 migrants were rescued."

(MH/CD)

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