asked the Minister for Defence if he is aware that floating mines in Tramore Bay have been a source of great danger to visitors during the holiday season, and that their destruction has been delayed for a considerable period thus causing great inconvenience to the residents and visitors in not being allowed to use the promenade and strand, and if steps will be taken by his Department, without delay, to have these mines destroyed.

Owing to the growth in intensity of the present naval warfare, the number of mines floating inside our territorial waters and driven on our coast has increased considerably. No doubt inconvenience is caused by reason of the fact that people are prohibited from access to areas in which mines are located. I can assure the Deputy that the special staff engaged in disposing of mines has worked day and night and spared no effort in dealing with them as quickly as possible. It must be borne in mind that the dismantling or destruction of mines is a highly technical and dangerous operation and can be carried out only by specialist personnel.