'FREE-FOR-ALL' DRUG RUNNING PREDICTED WITHOUT PATROL

Fine Gael predicts "free-for-all" drug-smuggling and illegal fishing
in Irish waters if four Naval Service patrol ships continue to be tied
up while asbestos is removed.

The party's defence spokeswoman, Ms Frances Fitzgerald, said yesterday
she intended to raise the issue with the Minister for Defence, Mr
Smith, in the Dail. The Minister is due to commission the fleet's
latest addition, the Roisin, Eireannach (LE) in Haulbowline, Co Cork,
on Wednesday.

Four patrol ships - the LE Deirdre, LE Aisling, LE Emer and LE Aoife -
have been confined to Haulbowline since asbestos cladding was
discovered on the Deirdre last month.

The cladding was subsequently detected on exhaust manifolds in the
engine rooms of the other ships, and specialists have been hired to
strip it. No completion date has been given for the work, but it is
expected that most of the ships will not put to sea again until after
Christmas. PDFORRA, the union representing non-commissioned officers
and staff, has asked that a health screening programme be initiated
for anyone who was in contact with the asbestos without protective
clothing.

The Naval Service has said the material is a less harmful type of
asbestos, and is confined to a small area on each of the ships.