Sir, - The remarks reported by Lorna Siggins as quoted by Commander Jim Robinson (May 12th) ought to be heeded. This is not the time for the manpower shortage in the naval service to remain unaddressed. Nobody should be under any illusions as to the demands that can be made upon the Naval Service at any time: it will take only one pollution incident or another air (or sea) disaster to show exactly how thinly spread our capacity to respond appropriately has been allowed to become.
This country has a large area of maritime responsibility and it is incumbent upon us to recognise that we must make an effort to assemble the resources to meet this responsibility. With the exchequer in the healthiest state it has been, the accountants in the Department of Finance must not be allowed to overrule the recommendations of those at the coal-face. There is every indication that the Naval Service should be going through a period of expansion if it is to have any hope at all of meeting the challenges of our waters, particularly the issues of drug interdiction, fishery protection and air/sea disaster contingency planning.
There is a tradition of Irish seamen finding employment abroad with foreign naval services and the mercantile marine, a tradition which continues up to the present day. In other words, the potential to meet the manpower shortage, currently being experienced by the navy, already exists. But a well-publicised recruitment campaign is called for.
To further hone the skills of our naval personnel, training, drilling and practice are essential on as large a scale as possible. There can be no excuse for not having permitted the Naval Service to participate in the recent PfP exercises in the Baltic; even in the merchant marine it is normal practice for any emergency to consist of a combination of ships of varied flags, all doing their part to aid the stricken ship. Why should there be any other approach by the Naval Services of Europe to other crises such as air disasters, pollution incidents and a response to the ever-increasing drugs problem?
The men of the Naval Service are ready, willing and able to meet the demands placed upon them, provided they are given the resources to do so. These resources consist of a supply of recruits, plus the ships and equipment they would use. Are we as a nation going to continue to expect foreign nations to do our work for us?
The large tax revenue from the country's economic boom can hardly be put to any better use than to fund an advertising campaign to attract the recruits needed. We have to face up to our maritime responsibilities. If there is another air disaster in Irish waters similar to the Air India one, or if a Blaer or Sea Express fetches up on our own coast, it won't be the accountants and the economists from the Department of Finance who are sent to pick up the pieces, but they will be the ones who will answer for the resources available on the day. - Yours, etc., Capt John Dunne, MNI,
Dunbur Park, Wicklow Town.