asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he proposes to visit the State of Iraq with the Taoiseach during the proposed forthcoming official visit; and if he will indicate what role his Department will have in the discussions which will take place between the Taoiseach and Iraqi Government officials.

: As the Deputy will be aware, the Taoiseach's visit to Iraq has been deferred. A new date for the visit has not yet been arranged.

: The meat is in the second part of my question. I asked the Minister if he would indicate what role his Department will have in the discussions which will take place between the Taoiseach and the Iraqi Government. My concern is that this may be some kind of private junta, made official by the head of the Irish Government and his friend in Iraq and that the entire apparatus of the Department of Foreign Affairs here is not being consulted in the manner I should like to see.

: That is not true and I wish to refute it utterly. Iraq is a country with which we are doing substantial business. Last year we arranged an inter-Government deal for the supply of oil.