Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

That is a good and pointed analogy to put to me. However, there is a difference between the relationships between a household and families and that between two countries. We have raised this issue at diplomatic and political level with the US Government, which is the source of nearly all of the personnel to whom the Chairman refers. The American authorities have assured the Government clearly that the requests of the Irish Government are being implemented. It is the clear and strong understanding of the Government that the munitions with which it would be necessary to load these weapons are not on the aeroplane. Our understanding is the munitions are carried on a separate aeroplane most of the time. Consequently, where I would differ, in respect of the Chairman's analogy, is that we are not talking about relations between families or between communities but about relations between two countries.