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THE IRISH GOVERNMENT has donated the recently-decommissioned LÉ AOIFE to Malta to help the Mediterranean country deal with the ongoing refugee crisis in the region.
The vessel was decommissioned from the Naval Service in Waterford in at the end of last month, after 36 years in service.
The Department of Defence had initially planned to sell the ship, as it did with the decommissioned LÉ Emer in 2013 (it reached €320,000 at an auction in Cork).
However, Minister Simon Coveney confirmed earlier this week that another course of action was being considered, after an approach from Malta.
“Following discussions with my Maltese counterpart, I understand that the Maltese authorities require this ship for their armed forces to patrol the Mediterranean Sea to endeavour to deal with the ongoing difficult refugee crisis in the region,” Coveney said.
“Recent tragic events in that part of the Mediterranean have underlined the significant challenges which need to be addressed by the international community.”
In a statement today, Coveney confirmed that the transfer of the ship had been formally agreed at a meeting of EU defence ministers in Latvia.
“While the vessel is no longer viable for use in Irish waters it is ideally suited to address a pressing short-term shortfall in the naval capacity of Malta,” he said.
Coveney said that the refugee crisis represented a significant challenge for the EU and that while Ireland wasn’t at the front line of the crisis, the country was pleased to be in a position to support the response.
The two ministers, according to the statement “instructed their officials to deal with the formal modalities of the transfer of ownership of the ship at the earliest opportunity”.
The UNHCR says that almost 3,500 people died trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea to Europe last year. In the latest tragedy – last week – at least 300 migrants are feared to have drowned – trying to cross from north Africa.
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That’s 12 points from Malta in the Eurovision
Good hopefully they save many lives
Can’t believe Le Emer only went for 320,000. That’s like the average price of a house in Dublin!
And Sadly LE Emer was eventually scrapped entirely (instead of converted to a yacht as originally intended).
Emer was bought by the nigerians. Deirdre was scrapped after being bought with the intention of being turned into a yacht!
jeez u could nearly park Le Emer in the grand canal and have it as a house boat. serious bit of a house.Just drift off when the debt collectors from irish water come
http://www.yachtcharterfleet.com/luxury-charter-yacht-46562/santa-rita-i.htm
Le Deirdre Is now the M/Y Santa Rita.
I kinda like the idea that the LÉ AOIFE will still be patrolling some where especially where it will help to save lives instead of ending up scrapped.
Malta is a very small country with it’s own debt problem that has to deal with an ongoing humanitarian crisis on the borders of Europe.
Financially it’s a small contribution that will reap benefits in saving lives.
I don’t think you understand… those armed forces who gonna take over this boat is just going to send these migrants back where the came from not help them… Malta doesn’t want them because there a cost to the country you may say it’s against EU law to do so but unfortunately this isn’t been enforced…you should look at how Italy,Greece and Spain treat these people it really horrific…some do get through but considered to be the lucky ones.
@Paddy
“those armed forces who gonna take over this boat is just going to send these migrants back where the came from not help them”
And rightly so. People who want to emigrate into the EU should apply for asylum. For all we know, there could be terrorists among the hordes of illegal immigrants.
Paddy, regardless of the final outcome the majority of migrants picked up off Malta are in danger of drowning, so if this ship saves lives is that not to be thanked?
Fantastic to the Irish Defence Forces continuing to support the Maltese Defence Forces.
Glad to see Aoife continue on too!Bravo!
As the Islamic State gains strength in Libya and threatens to overrun Italy with immigrants, Italy finds itself exposed with no way to handle the onslaught. Malta stands in the way and needs this ship plus a few more heavily armed ones.
I love Malta, that’s why I “live” there.
We could have arm wrestled them for it or something.
Sure we gave away all the gas off the west coast to Shell, I don’t think giving away a boat will make much difference.
thanks from malta we need it alot
You have a brother call Trev?
Decent gesture……Don’t hear rte or the Irish times reporting this
What is it with Water at the moment with Fine Gael- Charge Irish People twice for drinking it but give Malta a free boat to sail on it-
Malta gets donation of ship to aid refugee problem, must be something to do with water!
Settling DOB’s taxes in Malta by bartering?
well done enda
New military alliance Ireland and Malta. Watch out Vladimir! We is comin for ya!
I don’t see any of our eu partners lining up to help us with our problems. That money could have even eased the problems of direct provision here..
No the only way to end direct provision here is to put them on the next flight back to where they came from
Direct provision can be ended at the stroke of a pen. The money that is being spent on it to fatten political party cronies would be better spent on social housing.
Thomas a lot of things can be sorted with a stroke of a pen. Greek and Irish debt, homelessness in Ireland, direct provision. But under no circumstances should we reward a lot of people that are in direct provision with new social housing paid by Irish and Non Irish workers/ taxpayers. It just wouldn’t be fair.
My point was that we have aided somebody else’s problem with people flooding into their borders
when we also have a similar problem. 300k would have updated a couple of units for genuine cases.
The hand of DOB?
Everything is.
Illuminati got nothin on him.
I was wondering how long it would take for some idiot to make a connection with DOB. can someone now make a connection to Irish Water?
Someone above just did (michaelhenry, I believe, David)!
Murphy with an “e”?
There’s posh.
I love paul carey.
X
Hands off, DJ, I’ve already marked his card :P
I knew a Paul Carey in my village/ secondary school. He wasn’t the brightest and a lot of people thought there was something wrong with him.
If it’s you Paul Hello neighbour!
But I am good at what I do!!! Rattling your cage.
In fairness, Spider, having read some of your posts, it’s quite evident that you are not in a position to pass comment on anyone else’s lack of intelligence.
They really just gave the ship away?? RUBBISH. There’s some other deal going on.
DOB covets the legendary Maltese falcon & the powers it bestows….
… obviously.
Yeah Stanley just between DOB and Enda
Quite a few commenters here seem unhappy with the ship being given free, meanwhile at http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20150219/local/ireland-to-donate-offshore-patrol-ship-to-malta.556672 lots of people are unhappy that it’ll cost to much to run and just bring more migrants to Malta.
See, the Irish and Maltese have a lot in common :)
but it can be used to defend maltes waters aswel :) so thanks IRISH GOVERNMENT good on ya …
Malta was the most heavily bombed nation in the world during WWII The nazis and Moussellini needed their fortress harbour but they kept them at bay with only a couple of planes. The Maltese people were awarded the Victoria Cross for their heroic efforts. They gained their independence from the british in 1964 and became a republic a decade later. English is their second language
We are such a kind Country. Now Inda what you going to do about the families suffering every day in Ireland the poverty is here too, but no Country would give anything away if they were in dire straights. You have a lot to learn . After the next G E you will have plenty of time to do that.
Anyone been to Malta? What’s it like? I hear the food isn’t great. Rabbit with tomato sauce and egg n chips type fare?
It’s unbelievable. Absolutely gorgeous. The food is quite nice. An Italian influence to a lot of the cuisine so that helps. DON’T DRIVE while you’re there though. It’s terrifying.
Thanks. Images I’ve seen do look nice. The food aspect put me off booking – I might look at it again though.
Great place steeped in history, good food, good people and you can easily get around on public transport.
The food isn’t great if you go to eateries catering for elderly British expats. Go further afield, and it’s pretty good.
Malta’s a great place, I’ve lived here for over three years and you couldn’t ask for friendlier people. Rabbit in white wine is the national dish. As others have said avoid the places catering for budget UK tourists and there are some nice restaurants.
The buses are much improved and all day tickets are really cheap.
It’s great to see Ireland helping out a fellow small neutral nation with it’s defence needs, the LÉ Aoife will be the Maritime squadron’s largest and most heavily armed ship.
Was on holiday in Malta about 10 years ago. Lovely place. All the buses were hand-me-downs from UK, 1940-50-ish vintage, held together with a spit and a prayer, rather lots of prayers, fitted out with Marian shrines, cribs, miraculous medals, all needed because the drivers were utter maniacs. Lovely place
Great place for civil servants, whose working day ends (or used end) about 1pm.
Those old vintage buses have now been replaced with a new Arriva fleet very comfortable could do with some here
The Water charge and property tax money went to that too… I wouldn’t be surprised.
Ffs.
Bad stutter there lol.
Why not give it away, who’s idea was it ours or Merkels?
Why not give it too SVP to raise funds to look after families hit by this government.
They could’ve held a raffle!
Why didn’t they lend it to them on the condition that it eventually be returned in good working order…. seems thoughtless to just give it away; it’s not like there is an abundance of resources floating around Ireland
Fair is fair the IRA got a few free ship loads of weapons from Malta
http://www.nairaland.com/2150672/nigerias-president-jonathan-set-commission
LE Emer has gone to Nigeria
have your say