The naval service has been taking part in one of its biggest ever fleet manoeuvres off Cork. Codenamed Operation Phoenix, it aims to test the fleet's ability to respond to a variety of situations, with a special emphasis on drug seizures.
Lieutenant Officer John Fitzgerald leads an eight man surveillance party onboard the ship six miles off the south coast of Ireland. It is believed the vessel is carrying drugs. However, this was just a training exercise for the naval officers
Today it was just a training exercise for these naval officers. For the past three days, naval personnel have been taking part in fleet manoeuvres off the Cork coast, codenamed Operation Phoenix.
Onboard the LÉ Róisín, Commodore John Kavanagh, Flag Officer Naval Service comments on the challenges of finding new recruits to the naval service.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 16 August 2000. The reporter is John O'Driscoll.
