asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy if the Government would have priority rights of access to the Gulf Oil shipment terminal at Bantry Bay in the event of an oil embargo being levied upon this country; and, if so, the terms of such priority access.

The answer to the first part of the question is "Yes". I might perhaps refer the Deputy to the Fuels (Control of supplies) Act, 1971, which, inter alia, provides that where the Government declare that the exigencies of the common good necessitate it, the Minister may, by order, provide for the regulation and control of the supply and distribution of fuels and also may control fuel imports and exports.