asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs whether the Government have expressed satisfaction at attempts by some of our European partners to revive the Western European Union, to which Ireland does not belong, as acceptance that the European Community cannot discuss defence or military matters.

As the Deputy has pointed out in his question, Ireland is not a member of the Western European Union. Consequently, it is not a matter for the Government to express satisfaction or otherwise at the recent reported interest by certain members of the Western European Union in reviving that organisation.

Would the Minister confirm that the Government do not plan that Ireland should be a member of any union of the type about which I am talking here?

The Government have no plans to join the Western European Union. I do not think that it would be up to the Government to opt to join this union.

I am thinking about the Christian Democrats.

It is an organisation which has been dormant for nearly 30 years.

Having regard to the Minister's party's alliance within the European Parliament——

We are very proud of our alliance with the greatest democratic and political ideology in the western world.

Could the Minister assure me that his colleagues in the Fine Gael Party who are members of the Christian Democrats in the European Parliament will not be submerged by their colleagues and brought along with them?

I think that they have shown that already.

Is the Minister satisfied — given the fact that we are involved in discussions in Stockholm and have been members of the Security Council and members of the United Nations and of the EEC — that this Parliament has sufficiently discussed policy so that we can determine whether we should or should not apply for membership of the Western European Union — or any other body, for that matter? Is the Minister satisfied that sufficient time is provided in this House for such discussion?

That is another question.

Is the Minister satisfied that this Parliament has expressed its will with regard to this union or any other body?

Obviously, there has been no specific decision by Parliament in this matter. It has not come before Parliament. It is a matter for the Executive of the day to bring recommendations in this or any other area before Parliament for their acceptance or rejection. This matter has not been the subject of much debate within Parliament although it is a subject which has been attracting more and more attention in recent times and may well come to the floor of this House for debate, but as the Deputy is aware, that is not a matter for me to arrange.