asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if any agreement has been entered into with EEC member states in relation to fishery protection inside this country's 200-mile fishery limit.

At the meeting in the Hague on 30th October, 1976, the Foreign Ministers agreed that protection and control of the fishing zone off Ireland must not result, because of the size of that zone, in a charge which would be disproportionate to the volume of the Community fish resources which can be exploited in that zone by Irish fishermen. The Ministers agreed that the implementation of available means of surveillance or those to be foreseen must be accompanied by appropriate measures to ensure that the charges which ensure will be shared equitably.

The Government has already entered into discussions with the Commission in regard to the measures which will be necessary and the action to be taken by the Community to implement this agreement. It is not, of course, possible to reveal details of these discussions at this time.

In view of the fact that most of the member states are members of NATO, would the Parliamentary Secretary tell the House if this agreement might get us involved in a military alliance and would he ensure that that is not going to be the case?

The Deputy is raising another matter.

There is not the slightest danger of that. There are two questions down to the Minister for Defence which may be reached next Tuesday on which he will give definite details of his plans in this regard. I can tell the Deputy in a general way that what is envisaged is to expand our own protection facilities and to recoup a very substantial contribution in respect of the cost of them from Community sources. In other words, the control of this enormous expanded area of sea will be undertaken under the Irish flag but the expense will be minimised by a substantial Community contribution.

That was mentioned in the budget speech.

It would be better if I left this to the Minister for Defence.