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Ireland to deploy naval vessel in Mediterranean

Xinhua, May 14, 2015 Adjust font size:

Ireland will deploy a naval vessel to the Mediterranean to assist the Italian authorities in the humanitarian rescue operations, the military said on Thursday.

The Irish naval vessel, LE Eithne, with a crew comprising about 65 personnel, is expected to depart the naval base in south Ireland's Haulbowline on Saturday, subject to confirmation of the proposed arrangements by the relevant Italian authorities, it said.

LE Eithne will be deployed to the Mediterranean for a period of up to six months over the summer period, subject to the operational demands and requirements arising in the theatre of operations, it added.

"The humanitarian crisis in the Mediterranean is of great concern to Ireland and to our EU partners. I am anxious that we commence search and rescue activities in the Mediterranean as soon as it is feasible to do so," Irish Defense Minister Simon Conveney said.

Conveney highlighted the government's commitment to continuing Ireland's strong tradition of peacekeeping, saying that the proposed deployment of the Irish naval vessel to the Mediterranean will bring the number of defense forces personnel deployed overseas to approximately 500 Irish personnel. Endit