asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the British Government have notified their intention to protest or if they have in fact protested to the Irish Government against the recent order made by the Government under the Continental Shelf Act, 1968.

No protest has been received from the British Government but a Foreign Office spokesman in referring to the recent Irish designation order stated that they were studying the matter and that Her Majesty's Government would be protesting and reserving all her rights in the matter in due course.

Do I take it the Foreign Office spokesman has indicated that the British Government will be protesting, and could I ask the Parliamentary Secretary if this will in any way change the view of our Government in making similar protests when the action is the other way?

I do not follow——

Have we at any time indicated we would protest when the British made a similar order——

Certainly, and we have done so——

Have we protested?

——and, as is stated in the reply to a later question which the same Deputy has put down, a protest is in preparation and should be on its way within a couple of days.

We will hear the reply when it comes.

32.