Global InformationIrish Naval Service information
| Naval Service | |
|---|---|
| An tSeirbhís Chabhlaigh (Irish) | |
 Emblem of the Naval Service | |
| Founded | 1 September 1946[1] |
| Country |  Ireland |
| Type | Navy |
| Role | Defence of the state and protection of its maritime resources |
| Size | 764 active personnel (Establishment: 1,094) (Apr 2023)[2] 77 reservists (Establishment: 200) (Apr 2023)[2] 6 ships (including 4 in reserve)[3][4][5][6] |
| Part of |  Irish Defence Forces |
| Naval base | Haulbowline, County Cork, Ireland |
| Colours |   |
| Website | www |
| Commanders | |
| FOCNS | Commodore Mick Malone[7] |
| Supreme commander | President Michael D. Higgins |
| Insignia | |
| Naval ensign |  |
| Naval jack |  |
The Naval Service (Irish: An tSeirbhís Chabhlaigh) is the maritime component of the Defence Forces of Ireland and is one of the three branches of the Irish Defence Forces.[8] Its base is in Haulbowline, County Cork.
Though preceded by earlier maritime defence organisations, the Naval Service was formed in 1946.[9] Since the 1970s a major role of the Naval Service has been the provision of fisheries protection in Ireland's exclusive economic zone (EEZ).[10][11][12][13][14] Other roles include sea patrol, surveillance, and smuggling prevention.[15] Occasionally the service undertakes longer missions in support of other elements of the Defence Forces, Irish peacekeepers serving with the United Nations, or humanitarian and trade missions.[15]
The Naval Service has an active establishment of 1,094, and a reserve establishment of 200. Like other components of the Defence Forces, the Naval Service has struggled to maintain strength and as of April 2023 has only 764 active personnel, and 77 reserve personnel.[2]
Since July 2017 the Naval Service has participated in the European External Action Service mission which focuses a number of EU navies on humanitarian and training roles in the Mediterranean. This mission entitled "EU Navfor Med" is the first time Ireland has taken part in a multi-role and multi-national naval operation.
Ships in the Irish Naval Service are designated with the ship prefix of Long Éireannach (Irish Ship), which is abbreviated to LÉ.
- ^ "The Defence Forces". Irish Defence Forces. Archived from the original on 14 April 2010. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
- ^ a b c "Defence Forces Strength (Dáil Éireann Debate – Tuesday, 13 June 2023)". Dáil Éireann Hansard. 13 June 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
The established strength and current strength of the Defence Forces as at 30 April 2023 is [..] Army 7,520 .. 6,322 [..] Air Corps 886 .. 711 [..] Naval Service 1,094 .. 764 [..] Army Reserve 3,869 .. 1,382 [..] Naval Service Reserve 200 .. 77 [..] First Line Reserve N/A .. 275
- ^ "Irish Naval Service opts to mothball Roisin-class OPVs due to manning issues". janes.com. 3 February 2023. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
- ^ "Written Answers: Department of Defence". Dáil Éireann Hansard. 10 November 2020. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
- ^ "Irish Navy decommissions a third of its fleet". irishtimes.com. Irish Times. 8 July 2022. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
- ^ "Naval Service left with two ships to patrol Irish waters due to manpower crisis". irishtimes.com. Irish Times. 23 August 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
- ^ "Info Centre > General staff > Brigade commanders > FOC Naval Service". Defence Forces Ireland. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
- ^ The Irish Defence Forces are made up of the Permanent Defence Forces (PDF) – the standing branches – and the Reserve Defence Forces (RDF). The Naval Service is part of the PDF.
- ^ "History of the Naval Service". Official Defence Forces website. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
- ^ "Roles of the Naval Service – Fisheries Monitoring Centre". Official Defence Forces website. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
- ^ "Military.ie – Naval Service – History". Official Defence Forces website. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021. Retrieved 28 July 2014.
(1999–2001) "Fishery Protection played an important role in the Service's day-to-day operations" (2002–present) ".. addition to the Naval Service's increasing fishery protection output ..
- ^ "Press Release – Naming and Commissioning Ceremonies for new Naval Service Vessel LÉ Samuel Beckett". MerrionStreet.ie Irish Government News Service. 17 May 2014. Archived from the original on 3 September 2014. Retrieved 28 July 2014.
The [newest fleet addition] will be used mainly for fishery protection patrols
- ^ "Submission on Defence Green Paper: Towards an Efficient and Effective Fisheries Protection Partnership". The Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority. 2013. Archived from the original on 14 March 2016. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
- ^ "Casting the Net" (PDF). Signal. No. Spring 2004. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 March 2016. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
- ^ a b "Roles of the Naval Service". Official Defence Forces website. Archived from the original on 16 March 2014. Retrieved 7 May 2014.