O'Dea defends decisions on raising 'Asgard II'

THE INSURER of sail training ship Asgard IIhas given the go-ahead for its salvage but the final decision has yet to be made by the Minister for Defence and Coiste an Asgard.

"Coiste an Asgard is examining the tenders raised by Allianz and a decision will be made in the next week or so," a Department of Defence spokeswoman said last night. The vessel, which sank on September 11th off France, is insured by Allianz for €3.8 million, according to the department.

Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea yesterday denied delaying a decision on raising the ship from the seabed.

Fine Gael defence spokesman Jimmy Deenihan TD warned that the delay in raising the ship was putting the chances of its salvage in danger. This was partly due to "weather windows" closing as the year goes on and partly due to potential silt damage, he said.

"If the Minister has already decided to leave the Asgard IIat the bottom of the ocean, he should say so. It would be politically dishonest to wait until it is too late for the Asgard IIto be raised and then say that your hands are tied."

Mr O'Dea accused the Fine Gael TD of "attempting to score points by suggesting there is some political indecision".

"There is no question of decisions being delayed or avoided and to suggest otherwise, which Deputy Deenihan is doing, is absolutely scurrilous," Mr O'Dea said.

There were many risks associated with "a hasty and ill-prepared attempt to salvage the ship".