Only two Irish Navy ships available to go to sea
LÉ Samuel Beckett is one of the two ships carrying out patrols
At a glance
Only two of the eight ships in the Irish Naval Service are able to carry out offshore patrols
A politician has said the situation could have a negative impact on Ireland's security
The navy said it faced challenges recruiting and retaining sailors
The service has recruited 37 people so far in 2023
- Published
There are "huge implications" for Ireland's security after it emerged that only two Irish Navy ships are available for offshore patrols, a TD (MP) has said.
The Naval Service has eight vessels but only two are being put to sea, with a third on standby.
Cathal Berry, a former Irish Army Ranger, told RTÉ' the situation was "completely abnormal and would not be normal in any other EU country".
The Defence Forces said it was the result of a continued loss of experienced personell and issues recruiting new staff.
Mr Berry, who sits in the Dáil (lower house of Irish Parliament) as an independent, said he believed the recruitment issue was about pay and that sailors and wider military personnel had "weak employment rights".
He said he did not blame the Defence Forces but that a cabinet minister needed to sort the issue out.
He warned there were implications for anti-smuggling operations and search and rescue work, adding that maritime defence and security was at risk.
LÉ Samuel Beckett was commissioned in 2014
The Department of Defence told RTÉ it had been informed the Naval Service was "adopting a three ship posture".
"This strategic decision has been taken in order to streamline operations, bolster existing capabilities, and ensure optimal resource allocation in the Naval Service," a spokesperson said.
They added that the navy was continuing to conduct maritime surveillance and fisheries patrols.
"The challenges around recruitment and retention within the Defence Forces" particularly affect "specialist positions, as the current competitive jobs market is proving challenging for all sectors," the spokesperson added.
"A range of initiatives have been implemented with a view to addressing these challenges."
A navy spokesperson told BBC News NI it was planned that the ship which was on standby would go back on patrol duties as soon as possible.
It is understood the two ships which will operate patrols will be Samuel Becket class vessels, while one other ship of the class would be the standby ship and the fourth would undergo maintenance.
The two ships of the Róisín class have already been placed in reserve while two new inland patrol vessels which were bought from the Royal New Zealand Navy have not yet entered service.
There were 1,493 applications to join the Naval Service last year, and 1,037 applications were made up to the end of July.
The Naval Service said the total number of new recruits so far in 2023 was 37.
In 2022 the total number was 28.