It is "incredible" and "completely abnormal" that there are only two vessels conducting coastal patrols off the Irish coast, an Independent TD has said.
The Naval Service has confirmed that at present only two vessels are conducting coastal patrols.
In a statement, it said that "two OPVs (offshore patrol vessels) will conduct Operations going forward".
In a move prompted by an ongoing recruitment crisis, a third ship will be kept on stand-by.
The decision to amend "the Operational Model for the remainder of 2023" was made "[due] to the continued loss of Suitably Qualified Experienced Personnel.(SQEP) loss of personnel in general and low levels of recruitment".
The navy noted that the total number of new recruits to date in 2023 is 37. Last year the total number was 28.
"When the Navy consolidate and commence regeneration, it is planned for the 'Standby' OPV to revert to active patrolling as soon as possible", the statement concluded.
Independent TD Cathal Berry, a former army ranger, said that having "one quarter" of the fleet operational is "incredible" and "completely abnormal... particularly for a maritime nation like ourselves."
"The dominant factor is pay, really," he told RTÉ's News at One.
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Navy Service employees have "very weak employment rights", with "no access to the Labour Court", Deputy Berry said, adding that there is a lack of ministerial intervention "to ensure a level playing".
He called out three "heavyweight ministers" who have naval facilities in their constituencies; Minster for Public Expenditure Michael McGrath, Minister for Defence Micheál Martin and Minister for Enterprise Simon Coveney.
'Huge operational implications'
Mr Berry warned of serious implications, firstly from an "anti-smuggling point of view".
Smugglers will be able to "come and go as they see fit", and this news "is like putting a big neon sign over Ireland saying we are open for business".
"Ireland is wide open", he warned, asking where the drugs gardaí are seizing in raids are coming from.
"They are not coming in on the wind", the deputy said.
"The vast majority are being landed on the west coast by surface vessels", and perhaps even by submarine, as is happening in Spain and Portugal.
The curtailed fleet will also impact search and rescue, Deputy Berry said, noting that since Brexit there have been "four times as many car ferries" coming into Ireland.
The third area it will impact is "maritime defence and security", with Russian warships probing and "pushing up against" Irish waters.
There is no way "of even monitoring that activity" let alone preventing it, the deputy said.
'Jobs market proving challenging'
In a statement, the Department of Defence said that it had been informed that "the Naval Service is adopting a three ship posture", adding that "[for] security and operational reasons, details relating to the tasking of these vessels cannot be released."
"This strategic decision has been taken in order to streamline operations, bolster existing capabilities, and ensure optimal resource allocation in the Naval Service", a spokesperson said.
"The Naval Service is continuing to conduct Maritime surveillance and fisheries patrols in Irish coastal waters, and the Irish Naval Service Fisheries Monitoring Centre in Haulbowline will continue to monitor vessels in the Irish EEZ on a 24/7 basis, augmented by Air Corps maritime patrol aircraft."
The department noted that 1,493 applications were made to join the Naval Service last year, and 1,037 applications have been made up to end July in the current year.
"The challenges around recruitment and retention within the Defence Forces" particularly affect "specialist positions, as the current competitive jobs market is proving challenging for all sectors."
"A range of initiatives have been implemented with a view to addressing these challenges", the statement concluded.
