asked the Minister for Defence if, because of the growing unrest being caused within the Defence Forces and the concern and divisions being caused outside, he will make a statement indicating that there will be no participation by our Defence Forces in November's Remembrance Day Ceremonies.

There is no unrest in the Defence Forces about this matter.

The Defence Forces were not invited to participate in this year's Service of Remembrance and Dedication at St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin.

The Minister is living in cloud cuckoo land.

The unrest may have abated but there is no doubt that there was unrest no more than a month ago and that there was also unrest last year. Can the Minister assure the House that the Defence Forces will not be allowed to participate again in these ceremonies?

I cannot accept that there was unrest in the Defence Forces. The Deputy has already displayed on a number of occasions his lack of knowledge on anything pertaining to the Defence forces. He has no way of knowing whether there was unrest in the Defence Forces. There was no unrest in the Defence Forces on this matter.

The Minister would be the last to hear of it.

Nonsense.

Might I point out that the Minister's statement as regards my lack of knowledge is a matter of opinion and I leave others to judge that.

The Deputy may not make a statement.