Ministerial Visit
On Monday 6th July, 2015 a Ministerial delegation form Ireland visited Malta to express their appreciation to the crew of L.É. Eithne which was berthed in Malta as they finished their six week humanitarian mission in the Mediterranean. While in Malta the delegation were guests at the finner hosted by the Maltese Minister for Home Affairs and National Security, Justice, Culture and Local Government; and Social Dialogue, Consumer Affairs and Civil Liberties.
The delegation from Ireland included the Minister for Defence, Simon Coveney T.D., Minister of Justice and Equality, Frances Fitzgerald T.D. and Minister of State Sean Sherlock T.D. as well as Chief of Staff of the Irish Defence Forces Lt General Conor O'Botle.
On visiting the L.É. Eithne, Minister Coveney T.D. thanked the crew for their role in the Search and Rescue Operation in the Mediterranean in which they saved 3,376 people over 22 missions.
Commenting on the burden placed on countries in the region and Ireland's decision to accept a further 540 Syrian refugees despite an opt-out under EU law, the Minister stated that "Ireland's take on this is that we need to bear and shoulder our responsibility like everybody else".
The Minister also reiterated that the humanitarian crisis in the region is of great concern to Ireland who will be contributing a naval vessel to the Search and Rescue Operations in the Mediterranean until the end of September at the earliest.