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june 2015 Vol 19 Issue 2 L.E. ÉITHNE's DEPLOYMENT TO THE MEDITERRANEAN sEA ON A HUMANITARIAN MIssION www.military.ie Defence Forces Newsletter O ver the past number of weeks many thousands of migrants have departed the North African coast to transit the Mediterra- nean Sea, towards European ports in grossly overloaded vessels. The fate of these migrants has received much international press of late with reports of thousands drowning at sea and the rescue by European Navies of many thousands more. At a European Council Extraordinary Meeting on April 23, An Taoiseach, Mr. Enda Kenny (TD) declared that Ireland would send a Naval Vessel to assist in the humanitarian effort, subject to certain legal clarifications. Two weeks later the L.É. EITHNE of the Irish Naval Service was ready to deploy. Meanwhile officials from the Departments of Defence, Justice and Foreign Affairs, sup- ported by Cdr Burke, Legal Officer Naval Service, continued the complex negotiations with Italian authorities to draft a Memo- randum of Understanding which would dictate the nature and conduct of Ireland's humanitarian response. This agreement was achieved late on 15 May and L.E. ÉITHNE slipped and proceeded for the Mediterranean the following morning. The weeks prior to sailing saw an initial assessment of mission specific requirements. Primary among these was the security of the ship and its personnel, particularly after the embarkation of large numbers of rescued persons. Augmentees to the Ship's Company were identified and two personnel from the Army Medical Corps joined an increased medical team onboard. Addi- tional stores were embarked for a typical but extended Maritime Defence and Security Patrol. However as this is a Humanitarian mission, stores not usually carried on board such as baby formula were embarked. As the ship sailed to the Area of Operations in the Mediterranean Sea between Libya and Italy, mission specific training was conducted onboard to prepare for the Maritime Search & Rescue Operations ahead. The Naval Service is an integral part of Óglaigh na hÉireann and as the maritime component of the Defence Forces is the State's principal seagoing agency. The eight ships of the Naval Service are flexible and adaptable State assets that are deployed in a variety of roles. The ships themselves are relatively small, but their patrol outputs have outperformed international norms and are used as a yardstick by other navies delivering significant value for money to the Irish citizen. Naval Vessels carry with them unique characteristics as an expression of State sovereignty and political will at sea and in furthering policy objectives in the international maritime domain. The key attributes of Naval forces are self sufficiency, flexibility, independence from host nation support and a relatively long reach. Ships can deploy, withdraw and redeploy simply by exercising freedom of navigation over 70 % of the earth's surface, thereby giving political and operational decision makers options for action where the State wishes to provide Humanitarian assistance. In recent years the Naval Service has deployed albeit on diplomatic missions, as far East as Tokyo, as far West as Panama, as far North as Reykjavik and as far South as Cape Horn. Warships, even those of the Naval Service, require a considerable measure of self reliance. They have a degree of redundancy in equipment which enhances reliability. The LÉ EITHNE can remain poised in international waters for a consid- erable period of time to conduct the tasking with minimal additional support than that required in home waters or the necessity for fixed bases ashore, as their logistical support is carried with them. The use of maritime forces permits political leaders to shift focus and reconfigure quickly to handle a wide range of contingencies as the prevailing circumstances of the operation evolve with time. The deployment of an Irish Naval vessel to the Mediterranean is a tangible demonstration of positive interaction between States to promote international peace and stability. The obligation to render assistance to those in peril or lost at sea is one of the oldest and most deeply rooted maritime traditions and for centuries, seafarers have considered it a duty to assist fellow mariners in distress on the high seas. Contents UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon visit Post 94 Update Civil Registration Act Effects Based Planning DF Military Skills Spot The Difference EBP Poster

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