Statement by Tánaiste and Minister for Defence Simon Harris - 4 July 2025

I want to express my personal appreciation and that of the government for the exceptional work done by all the State agencies involved in the detention of the MV Matthew, the seizure of the drugs and the successful prosecution of those involved.

As Tánaiste and Minister for Defence, I want to pay a particular tribute to the courage, discipline and professionalism demonstrated by the members of the Defence Forces - drawn from the Air Corps, the Naval Service and the Army Ranger Wing – who were integral to ensuring the success of this operation.

The intelligence-led operation involved the deployment of the LE William Butler Yeats, two AW139 helicopters, one CASA fixed wing aircraft and one PC12 fixed-wing aircraft as well as a team from the Army Ranger Wing deployed by helicopter onto the MV Matthew and made the vessel safe.

This was, by any measure, a highly complex operation which required the participation of highly-skilled personnel operating in challenging conditions.

The government remains committed to ensuring that all three services have the resources and training to continue to fulfil such challenging tasks. That commitment is reflected, for example, by my announcement in April of funding of €46.3 million for the construction of a state-of-the-art new Headquarters and Training Centre for the Army Ranger Wing (ARW).

The Joint Task Force (JTF) on Drug Interdiction[1], which was established as a government measure to improve law enforcement in relation to drugs, has proven to be a very successful model for disrupting the smuggling of drugs on the high seas into Ireland, and beyond.

Finally, I want to reiterate the government’s commitment, as set out in Programme for Government, to implement a range of measures designed to dismantle criminal gangs and tackle the drugs epidemic in Ireland.

[1] The JTF comprises members of Revenue's Customs Service, An Garda Síochána and the Naval Service, assisted by the Air Corps and the Army as required. The Defence Forces act in an Aid to the Civil Power capacity, upon request from Revenue and An Garda Síochána.