The staffing crisis within the Naval Service means there are just two vessels available to patrol Irish territorial waters
The LÉ James Joyce and the LÉ George Bernard Shaw have been put on "operational reserve" due to a lack of specialists to crew them
Concerns are being expressed how two ships can monitor Ireland's fisheries, underwater cables, and carry out drug interceptions
In 2016, the navy had eight ships in operation but has been forced to cut that number in the intervening years due to a shortage of personnel.
The naval headcount has fallen below 800 with recruitment and retention continuing to be a big problem
Speaking to RedFM News PDForra president Mark Keane, who is based at navy headquarters in Haulbowline says he hopes this may act as a catalyst for change:
"The stakeholders might now come to the table and we can have a conversation around it and see what we need to do. And especially around to the commission on future Defence Forces. That report was published April of last year. We need to start implementing that. And we also need commitment from not only just the Department but also from finance, that they are serious about addressing these issues."
