While European leaders continue to debate the response to the refugee crisis the rescue operation in the Mediterranean continues.

The Irish navy service has rescued 6720 people in the Mediterranean since the mission began in July. The Le Niamh is currently deployed and will soon return to Ireland, to be replaced by the LE Samuel Beckett. 

Newstalk’s Shona Murray is at the port of Pozzallo in Sicily, Italy, where the LE Niamh brought to safety its last group of refugees. She’s had exclusive access to the vessel, and she reported to Newstalk Breakfast this morning. 

Shona spoke to the crew about the ship, the crew’s operations, and how they are able to emotionally and psychologically cope with what they have seen, including the deaths of many attempting to cross to Europe.

There is on-board stress management officers to help the crew deal with what they have seen, 

Commander Ken Minihan told Shona about the motivation the crew derive from seeing the change from fear to joy in the young children they save, and about the heavy emotional toll of the work, saying the crew have to: “Make sure that we don’t bring the harrowing scenes that we have seen back to our families. They will find it hard to understand what they crew have gone through.”

Listen to the full report below