As a matter of urgency I ask for leave to ask a question from the Minister for External Affairs in regard to any arrangements we have been able to make to safeguard the interests and safety of Irish citizens in Egypt and Israel.

With regard to Egypt, arrangements have been made by us with the Egyptian authorities for the appointment of an honorary consul to look after the needs of our people in that country. I have nominated for this post an Irish citizen resident in Cairo.

With regard to Israel, I have made arrangements with the British authorities for making available to our citizens in that country any help or assistance they may require in the present emergency. It has also been arranged that our citizens will be allowed to participate in any evacuation measures which the British authorities may decide to put into force.

The number of Irish citizens in Egypt and Israel is, according to my information, about 50 in each country.

Would the Minister state whether the Government have made any protest at the action of the British and French in flouting the United Nations Organisation in its action——

That is an entirely separate matter.

Does it not amount to the fact that our membership of the United Nations Organisation would seem to be a farce?

It has no relevance to the question asked by Deputy MacBride.

It might be no harm to answer the question. It is an important one.