asked the Minister for Defence the measures that exist to prevent the encroachment of foreign submarines in Irish coastal waters.

The Naval Service is responsible for the surveillance of Irish territorial waters. Vessels of the service are fitted with the appropriate equipment to enable them to perform this task.

If they were to detect a submarine, what would they do about it?

It is the accepted practice, in the event of a submarine being found in territorial waters, to use depth charges to force that vessel to surface.

Have any submarines been detected in our territorial waters in recent years?

I am not aware of any.

Are our vessels fully equipped to detect submarines?

I am not aware that they are not fully equipped.

I am aware that they are not.

Would the Deputy then consider that he is giving away State secrets, if he knows all those things?

I am informing the Minister that our vessels should be fully equipped and that it is the Minister's job to do it.