About Bloody Time!!

Steyr

Minister to signal purchase of ships

Minister for Defence Tony Killeen is expected to signal that the Government will buy two new Naval Service patrol ships during a visit to Cork today.

The announcement is expected to be made when Mr Killeen welcomes the LE Niamh home from a voyage to Latin America. Mr Killeen will be in Haulbowline naval base for the ship’s arrival this afternoon, along with Defence Forces chief of staff Lieut-Gen Sean McCann and Naval Service Flag officer Commodore Frank Lynch.


http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/0715/1224274739752.html

concussion

Cadet competition? Confirmation of new ships? What the heck is going on?


Come on RBS 23 system...

PatsytheNazi

Good to hear it. I suspect that when the economy picks up again ( not saying that will be tomorrow ) the govt. will start enlisting in big numbers to bring the unemployment stats down. Especially with an election coming up....

Steyr

concussion wrote: »

Cadet competition? Confirmation of new ships? What the heck is going on?

Progress.:)

Morpheus

only two?

I thought they wanted 2 OPVs and 1 EPV with options for one of each more!?

OS119

PatsytheNazi wrote: »

Good to hear it. I suspect that when the economy picks up again ( not saying that will be tomorrow ) the govt. will start enlisting in big numbers to bring the unemployment stats down. Especially with an election coming up....

mouse. rape. elephant.

concussion

There are over 450,000 on the live register. The DF is under establishment by no more than 2000.

mikeym

I wonder what will Joe civvie think especially when half the country dont know we have a naval service.
As long as the oppisition parties dont oppose it the ships will be built.

Tabnabs

Morphéus wrote: »

only two?

I thought they wanted 2 OPVs and 1 EPV with options for one of each more!?

I think we are closer than ever to finally getting an EPV, Tony Kileen specifically mentioned the offshore industry and oil exploration in an interview on newstalk on Thurs/Friday morning. They are de rigueur with most/all other northern European countries and we can't ignore the inadequacy any longer. The Report to the Steering Group on the Review of the Irish Naval Service and Air Corps, 1998 recommended that the west coast service should be provided via PPP and the east coast should a joint PPP with the UK.

Irish seafarers have the expertise and qualifications to man and operate these vessels. The system works in our neighbouring countries, why not here?

maquiladora

Looks like these guys will be designing/building them :

http://www.babcock.co.uk/pages/divisions/template.aspx?pageId=154