asked the Minister for Transport if he has satisfied himself that Irish fishing and shipping interests are being kept fully informed of submarine activity inside and outside our three-mile territorial limit; if the international rules of "innocent passage" where submarines must travel on the surface and display their flag while inside the three-mile limit are being observed; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

: As Minister for Transport, I would not be aware of submarine activity within or outside Irish territorial waters and could not say, therefore, whether such activity is being carried out in accordance with the rules of innocent passage.

: Does that mean that this question should have gone to another Minister?

: I do not think so because I do not think any other Minister would have that sort of information. It is certainly not available in my Department and as far as I am aware it is not available in any other Department.

: Is the Minister aware that a news item about a submarine spending the night off the Isle of Man en route to Ardrossan appeared in The Guardian newspaper before an admission from the British Government that a submarine sank one of our trawlers in the Irish Sea?

: I am not very familiar with the matter the Deputy has raised but he might wish to raise it with the Minister for Foreign Affairs or the Minister for Defence. That might be more appropriate.

: Usually if information is not available in a Department but would be available in another Department the question is switched to another Minister.

: The Chair has no control over that.