asked the Minister for Defence if his attention has been drawn to reports that a financial grant was paid to this country under the US International Military Education Training Programme; if this grant was paid to any member or section of the Defence Forces or his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

(Limerick West): The suggestion in a newspaper report of 3 February 1988 that a grant of $2,000 had been made to this country under the United States International Military Educational Training Programme is not correct.

No such grant has been made.

Has a grant ever been paid from this fund to the Defence Forces, not just last year? Have the Department made any inquiry as to the source of the bogus story?

(Limerick West): If I were to make inquiries about all such stories I would be fully occupied. The reply to the first part of the question is in the negative.

Would the Minister agree that it would be of considerable assistance in refuting the published report if he sought information from the United States Ambassador as to why this sum of money was published in the expenditure accounts of the US military?

(Limerick West): It is not my intention to do that. I am not responsible for what the US Ambassador or anybody else does.

This entry has appeared, erroneously or otherwise, in the accounts published by the US Information Service. It reflects poorly on our status as a neutral country and his Department might take up the matter with the embassy or other appropriate authority in order to have it rectified.

This is repetition. Next question, please.