asked the Minister for Defence the current weapon strength of the Army, Air Corps and Navy.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Weapon Strength of Defence Forces.
94.
I consider that it would not be in the interests of security to give the information sought by the Deputy.
Arising out of the Minister's rather odd reply, why cannot he disclose information which presumably is known to every third-rate military attaché to every third-rate military power in the world?
When the Minister feels that it is not in the interests of security to release such information, it is perfectly legitimate for him to be entitled so to decide. I do not know anything about the information available to the third-rate representatives of whom the Deputy speaks. I do not know how many of them there are about.
Is the Minister seriously suggesting that Irish military security is so secure that nobody should seek to find out the weapon force of the Irish Army, the Irish Navy and the Irish Air Force, and does he suggest that people would not be able to get that information with the utmost ease?
The Deputy has no problem, then.
The Minister has a problem if he thinks security is so tight.