asked the Minister for Defence if the Government have any proposals to purchase Skyvan aircraft from Short Brothers and Harland, Belfast.

My Department have no proposals to purchase Skyvan aircraft at present.

Will the Taoiseach state if that arises from the fact that the Department have no such need or that they do not consider the aircraft in question suitable?

They have purchased a different type of aircraft and they are expecting delivery shortly. Until they see how successful these aircraft are it is not proposed to purchase other trainer aircraft.

Will the Taoiseach indicate where the aircraft were manufactured?

I think they are Italian.

Assuming that contracts for the aircraft have to be placed abroad, will the Taoiseach state if any special preference is given to tenders submitted from the North of Ireland in view of the obvious concern regarding the employment situation there, apart from anything else?

With regard to the aircraft mentioned by the Deputy, a demonstration was held as a result of representations from the manufacturers. However, the Army authorities do not propose to purchase further aircraft at the moment. They had an aircraft at Baldonnel and it underwent some tests or at least it was demonstrated there.

Will the Taoiseach indicate if the Department of Defence or any other appropriate Department have any proposals to give this or any other firm in the North—assuming a firm cannot do it here—an opportunity of at least tendering for the appropriate contract?

As I understand it, the firm in question asked for an opportunity to demonstrate it and was given that opportunity. Then apparently it was decided—I take it as a result of contrasting one type with another; this is of course a technical matter—they decided against purchase at the moment.