asked the Minister for Defence if British army helicopters have landed in the new military barracks in Monaghan; and, if so, why.

No British army helicopter has landed in the new military barracks in Monaghan.

Disturbing Press reports indicated there was a landing in the military barracks in Monaghan. Would the Minister ensure there is an immediate repudiation of erroneous reports of this nature, which are causing disturbance in the minds of many people, by the military authorities, particularly disruptive reports such as this?

I am afraid the Deputy is allowing himself to be influenced too much by what he reads in the papers. I can assure him no British army helicopter landed in the new military barracks in Monaghan.

Would the Minister ensure that erroneous reports of this nature in relation to the Defence Forces are immediately repudiated by the Press Officer of the Defence Forces?

If such a report appeared, and I have seen no such report, I now repudiate it and I assure the House that no British army helicopter landed in the military barracks in Monaghan.

Will the Minister ensure these reports are repudiated at an early stage?

That is repetition.