Would the Minister agree that the policy he is pursuing is that of running down the naval arm of the Defence Forces? Arising from my question about the two minesweepers, Fola and Gráinne which are the only two minesweepers that could provide proper inshore patrol and minehunting facilities, is it his intention to replace the Fola and Gráinne? What is the Minister's intention for the Verolme Cork Dockyard?

Obviously that is a separate matter.

In relation to inshore protection which some Deputies are concerned about and to which the Deputy's question refers, I would suggest to the Deputy that inshore protection was not served to the best possible extent by the type of vessels he spoke about. In fact, one of the inhibiting factors of protecting the inshore areas was that these vessels were not suitable for that type of work. I am aware of this not from the Minister for Defence's point of view but from the fisheries point of view for which I have responsibility. To a large extent that type of surveillance equipment would have to be provided by bodies such as the regional fisheries boards who have responsibility in inshore areas. Smaller vessels such as the ones the Deputy has in mind are necessary in these areas. As I have already pointed out, the Naval Service have the Eithne which can carry two helicopters for this type of service, the Deirdre, the Emer, the Aoife and the Aisling. I am reasonably satisfied that within the resources and the equipment available to us we can adequately protect our fisheries service.