Can the Minister advise the House as to the criteria that are used in the selection of the country of manufacture of any proposed new weapon? I understand the Department are considering the purchase of a replacement rifle for the FN rifle and that one of the potential source countries for this weapon is Chile. Will the Minister give an undertaking that in the supply of weaponry to this country no contracts will be entered into with countries with a repressive history?

The Deputy is injecting new matter into this question.

The question seeks to find out the criteria that are used.

That is so but the Deputy is going into some detail.

Do any of the criteria that are used relate to the desirability of issuing contracts to countries such as Chile which has a repressive régime?

I think the Deputy has made his point.

(Limerick West): That appears to be a separate question and, in the interests of security, details regarding the purchase of defence equipment are not released.