Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

As Members will be aware, Ireland, as a neutral country, is not part of any common defence pact and there are no plans to change that position in the immediate future. While I do not intend to overstate the position, does the Taoiseach agree that if the interdepartmental group were to examine the attacks of 11 September 2001, it would immediately ascertain that we could do nothing in the event of a similar incident taking place here? Are plans in place to deal with the possibility, however remote, of a similar event occurring here? Are there plans to purchase equipment to permit us to deal with such an event?

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