asked the Minister for Defence the publications that are available for members of the public, giving general information and advice on civil defence; and if such publications give detailed and comprehensive information on the effects of nuclear fall-out and protective measures to be taken.

(Dún Laoghaire): The main publication is my Department's booklet, Bás Beatha, which is available to the public free of charge. The booklet gives detailed and comprehensive information on the effects of nuclear fall-out and the protective measures to be taken against that hazard. The published information can be supplemented by direct inquiry to the local Civil Defence organisation or, if necessary, to the Civil Defence branch of the Department of Defence.

In the near future it is intended to distribute to schools an information package on Civil Defence which will provide resource material to teachers who will be encouraged to include Civil Defence as a topic in the civics course for junior cycle pupils. The contract for the production of the major part of this package has already been placed.

The Department of Defence welcomes public interest in Civil Defence and I would suggest that the best possible way of becoming knowledgeable on these matters would be a period of enrolment in the Civil Defence volunteer organisation. In that regard, we ask every Member of the House to encourage members of the public to support and join the Civil Defence organisation, even for a short period.

Could I ask the date on which that booklet was published? Would the Minister of State agree that it warrants a new edition and updating? Would he not agree that it would warrant a wider circulation than it has at present? Would he consider making arrangements to have it circulated, at least to local authorities, residents' associations, tenants' associations and as large a number as possible of local groupings?

(Dún Laoghaire):Bás Beatha was originally issued in 1965 when approximately 700,000 copies were distributed. Further distributions were made in 1968 and 1972 to houses built since the previous issue. In other words, the previous issue was sent to every household. Copies are handed out to the public at various Civil Defence presentations throughout the country and are made available to individuals on request, free of charge. The information contained in the booklet is still substantially correct. A review of the booklet which is being undertaken is aimed principally at providing a slightly expanded and more modern presentation of the information.

There are various other options for spreading the essential information as and when circumstances demand, many of which would be more effective than presentation of the information again in booklet form. The Deputy may be assured that the updated version of Bás Beatha will be made available as he has requested.

Would the Minister not agree that his replies to this question and the previous one indicate a rather pathetic response to the dangers, slight though we hope they are, to the risk of a holocaust? Surely he is not telling the House that a booklet on this subject which was published in 1965 could be in any way up to date or include an assessment of the risks and dangers involved in this situation at the end of 1984. Would the Minister not agree also that it is entirely inadequate to say that the last distribution took place in 1972? Would he not consider arranging a distribution now to all possible local groupings, to residents' and tenants' associations and so on?

(Dún Laoghaire): On my coming to office I asked for an updated version of Bás Beatha and that updating is being undertaken. I accept that there should have been a review before now but I do not accept that the resources in the area of providing for a nuclear holocaust are pathetic. No country has resources that would be adequate to deal with a holocaust caused by a nuclear attack. As I have said before, this country has been to the forefront in trying to promote what successive Governments have regarded as the ultimate solution to this problem, that is, total disarmament.

We cannot rely on that.

(Dún Laoghaire): In the meantime we can only deal with the realities. The probability is that if we were to suffer from a nuclear attack it would be by way of fall-out. I am satisfied that every effort is being made on a continuous basis to update, to co-operate with other Departments and to ensure that every possible means is available to deal with fall-out should such a holocaust occur.