asked the Taoiseach if he has extended an invitation to President George Bush and President Mikhail Gorbachev to convene their next formal summit meeting in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

As the Deputy is aware, I mentioned to Mr. Gorbachev in the course of our discussions at Shannon in April of this year, that the Government would be pleased and honoured to provide the appropriate facilities of a summit meeting, if it should be the desire of both parties to use Ireland as a venue. The invitation has since been formally conveyed through diplomatic channels, to both Moscow and Washington. I could provide a ship.

Provided the Taoiseach does not navigate it.

While we are both safe on dry land, will the Taoiseach indicate whether he received a reply to that very positive invitation to both leaders, on which I congratulate him?

It was diplomatically noted.

That means it was rejected.

Was it just a public relations exercise?

Deputies should rise in their places if they seek to ask a legitimate question. I am calling Question No. 5.