asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the remarks attributed to the Danish Minister for Foreign Affairs on a "Today Tonight" programme that he and the Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs did not object when matters relating to defence were discussed at a meeting of the EPC.

The Deputy will be aware that defence questions fall outside the scope of European Political Co-operation and cannot, therefore, be discussed in EPC. This was the situation before drafting of the Single European Act and remains the position now that it has been signed and will be when it is ratified. This is acknowledged by all the member states.