34 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Defence whether Irish troops recently participated with French troops on a special training course on board a former car ferry docked in Dublin, as claimed in a newspaper report (details supplied); if so, if he will outline the purpose of the exercises; if he will confirm whether, during the past 12 months, Irish troops have participated with troops of any other country on such training exercises either (a) within the State or (b) abroad; if so, if he will list such exercises; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

The exercises referred to by the Deputy involved an exchange of information and techniques on maritime security matters between members of the Permanent Defence Forces and French Security Forces. In this regard I would point out that the French participants were not actually military personnel but were members of the anti-terrorist unit of the Gendarmerie Nationale.