An Cosantóir the official magazine of the Irish Defence Forces and Reserve Defence Forces.
Issue link: https://digital.jmpublishing.ie/i/685731
An Cosantóir June 2016 www.dfmagazine.ie 12 | By LT CDR MARTIN BRETT, OC LÉ JAMES JOyCE O n 4th April 2016, LÉ James Joyce met with Standing nAto Mine Counter Measures Group 1 (SnMCMG1), comprising six ships from different European coun- tries, to conduct mutually compatible exercises in the Irish Sea. Conducting common exercises with ships from other nations provides the naval Service with the experience and confidence to operate in a multi-national environment for humanitarian and security operations. Ireland, as an island nation on the western periphery of Europe, maintains a fleet of eight ships to patrol our mari- time jurisdiction. This area extends over 200 nautical miles into the North Atlantic, and covers a total area in excess of one million square nautical miles, or an area equivalent to twelve times the land mass of the island of Ireland. The Naval Service, as the state's maritime component of our Defence Forces (Óglaigh na hÉireann), is tasked with maintaining a continuous presence within our maritime jurisdiction, and beyond, where Ireland has interests. Our naval fleet conducts routine maritime defence and secu- rity operational (MDSO) patrols, and, at the discretion of the government, deployments outside our jurisdiction on operations such as the humanitarian relief effort in the Mediterranean – Operation Pontus. Whether on MDSO or foreign deployments, any of the eight ships of the fleet, can be called upon to perform a variety of tasks, or be expected to work or liaise with ships from other countries. In 2015 the government published its White Paper on Defence, which An Taoiseach says sets out "…a long-term and forward-looking approach to defence provision". (p.iii) In this White Paper a new and open engagement with our European neighbours and other regional entities is expressed: "Ireland will continue to engage proactively with the UN, the EU, the OSCE and NATO PfP and other states with a view to developing and deepening relationships to this end." (p.27) At sea, such engagements involve the A view of FGS Donau, HMS Ramsey and BNS Primula, as seen through the gyro pelidiopter on the bridge of LÉ James Joyce. Each ship is flying the Irish tricolour as a courtesy flag.