asked the Minister for Defence if an estimate has been prepared showing the total cost of modernising the ports which will be taken over from the British Government under the recent Agreement; and, if so, what is the amount.

asked the Minister for Defence if he will state what is the estimated annual cost of maintaining the ports which will be taken over from the British Government under the recent Agreement.

I propose to take questions Nos. 4 and 5 together. The whole question of national defence is under detailed examination at the moment. I cannot give the Deputy the information he desires at present, but in a short time the whole matter will be before the Dáil for consideration when the Defence Estimates are introduced.

Might I ask the Minister if, when they were in London discussing the question of taking them over, the Ministers had no estimate before them?

I did not say that at all.