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Minister with Responsibility for Defence, Mr. Paul Kehoe, T.D. today visited the newest addition to the Naval Service fleet when he boarded LÉ William Butler Yeats in Haulbowline. The Minister was welcomed on board by the Flag Officer Commanding Naval Service Commodore Hugh Tully and the ship’s Captain Lieutenant Commander Eric Timon.

The ship is the same class as LÉ Samuel Beckett, delivered in 2014 and LÉ James Joyce delivered in 2015. The ship recently completed successful Sea Acceptance Trials in the United Kingdom and arrived in the Naval Base on Saturday 23rd July 2016. LÉ William Butler Yeats will be formally commissioned later in the autumn and is replacing the recently decommissioned LÉ Aisling in service.

Minister Kehoe said that “the arrival of LÉ William Butler Yeats and its entry into service is another key milestone in the history of the Naval Service. In light of operational demands the provision of key equipment such as this is extremely important. I am pleased that the ship is destined to play an integral part in the protection of Irish maritime waters for many years to come and will also be available to participate in humanitarian operations such as Operation Pontus in the Mediterranean Sea.

The Government remains fully committed to ensuring that appropriate resources are provided going forward to enable the Defence Forces to carry out all of the roles assigned to them. The Government has provided a significant boost in capital funding for the Defence Sector for the period up to 2021, which will allow for considerable investment in equipment and infrastructure based on the priorities set out in the White Paper on Defence.”

The Minister went on to wish the Captain and his crew the best of luck as they continue to work the ship up to full operational capacity.
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Note for the Editor:
Following a tender competition, a contract was placed in October 2010 with Babcock International, UK, for the provision of two new 90m Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) for the Irish Naval Service with the option of a third OPV. The first of the two ships LÉ Samuel Beckett was handed over at the end of April 2014. The second ship LÉ James Joyce was delivered in July 2015. In June 2014 the Department exercised the option under the original contract to place an order for a third OPV which was delivered at end July 2016 following the completion of Sea Acceptance Trials in the UK. The value of the original contract, including the third ship, is €199,358,000, inclusive of VAT. The three new ships replaced LÉ Emer and LÉ Aoife and LÉ Aisling in service. A contract for a fourth sister ship was placed with Babcock International in June 2016 at a cost of €66,789,000, inclusive of VAT. The fourth ship is scheduled for delivery in mid 2018.