asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will promote a campaign for the collection of domestic waste paper to prevent the unnecessary import of waste paper.

The collection of waste paper is a matter which is organised by the waste paper merchants Due to the general decline in economic activity, the supply of domestic waste paper is currently in excess of demand. The Irish mills normally import a proportion of their waste paper requirements to meet the need for material with a higher proportion of chemical pulp than is present in some domestic waste. We also export waste paper of a type not required here.

Will the Minister state if any effort has been made to collect waste paper in this House? There is a tremendous amount here and if it is of some value it should be collected.

I regret I do not know the answer.

(Dublin Central): A number of charitable institutions in Dublin have been collecting waste paper over a period but now they are not able to dispose of it. This has happened in the past two months and I am sure the Minister is aware of it.

That is precisely the situation as stated in my answer. The supply of domestic waste is currently in excess of demand and people who are collecting it for admirable causes have difficulty in disposing of it.

(Dublin Central): The Minister has said we are importing some waste paper which seems strange in the circumstances.

Apparently the optimum mixture requires a higher proportion of chemical pulp than occurs in our waste paper. To balance it we import some high chemical pulp waste. It is a technical reason and I am satisfied it is a good one.