Ireland’s naval vessels will no longer be sent to the Mediterranean Sea to rescue stranded migrants after the EU announced that it will stop sea patrols between North Africa and Europe.
It is understood the decision comes after some EU countries including Italy, threatened to veto the operation known as Sophia.
Although sea patrols will continue until the end of September, the EU have said they will focus its operations on air patrols and training Libyan coast gaurd once the patrols end.
It is believed the decision to stop sea patrols comes after a disagreement had arisen over which countries would take in stranded migrants.
Despite an extension being agreed late last year after Italy’s government refused to take in further migrants last June, it is understood that the EU has made the decision to suspend sea patrols in order to work on other solutions to patrol the central Mediterranean.