28 April 2016
By Bryan T. Smyth
bryan@TheCork.ie
Today, the Minister for Defence, Mr. Simon Conveney, T.D., announced that L.É. Róisín will depart the Naval Base, Haulbowline on Sunday, 1st May 2016, to assist the Italian authorities in the search and rescue activities in the Mediterranean.
Earlier this month the Government approved the despatch of an Irish Naval vessel to the Mediterranean. Following the Government Decision the Minister commented “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 despatched with a crew comprising some sixty (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 went on to say “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”.
The Minister added “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.”
