asked the Minister for the Environment the contingency plans which exist to counteract the effects of a possible major oil spillage off the coast of Ireland; and if he considers that such plans are adequate to deal with all possible emergencies of this nature.

I dealt in some detail with the arrangements for clearance of oil pollution in the course of my reply on 27 April 1978 to the debate on the Estimates for my Department.

The arrangements which I outlined make satisfactory provision for dealing with oil spillages, bearing in mind that they are kept under regular review and will be developed as necessary having regard to experience here and elsewhere. In this connection I might mention that a liaison committee, chaired by an officer of my Department and representative of appropriate Government Departments, the County and City Managers' Association, the County and City Engineers' Association, the Institute for Industrial Research and Standards and the Institute of Engineers of Ireland, keeps in touch with major developments in neighbouring countries and that representatives of my Department and the Naval Service visited Brittany in connection with the spillage there.

Further details of the arrangements are contained in a booklet prepared for the use of bodies concerned in implementation of the contingency plans. I shall be glad to arrange for a copy of this booklet to be sent to the Deputy if he so wishes.

Would the Minister consider that there has been a change since the Breton experience? Having regard to the fact that there was a Franco-British arrangement in relation to the rerouting of ships, in the realisation that the task of preventing disaster in this context is enormous and also having regard to our extensive coastline, would he not consider initiating some movement in an effort to have established and developed an international crisis unit so that a small nation like ours, which would not be able to cope with disaster on a large scale, could get urgent help? Was it not the experience of the Bretons that they were unable to get help?

The main reason for the extensive spillage off the coast of France was the delay in making a decision. The proper attitude to have adopted would have been to set fire to the oil before it leaked from the ship. However, under an Act put through during Deputy Barry's tenure in office there is here a sea pollution arrangement with other nations regarding co-operation for this purpose. We are a signatory to that arrangement.

Does the Minister envisage a separate unit being established to help small countries like ours?

So far as I recall the debate on the Bill leading up to the Act I have mentioned, there is such an arrangement. This provides for the co-operation of the other member countries of the EEC in regard to any such disaster.

Can the Minister say whether his investigation of the Breton experience shows that the delay was on the part of the French Government or was it due to the French Government not being able to receive help from other governments?

That is a separate question. The reason I have put forward in relation to the Breton experience is purely my own assessment. There was a delay between the owners of the vessel, the salvage people and the insurance people involved.

That is correct.

Having regard to the possibility of such a disaster off our Atlantic coast, can the Minister say whether there might be some arrangement similar to that which exists between France and Britain whereby ships can be prevented from coming within a certain distance of our coastline?

I presume that would be possible. However, so far as I know, it would not be my responsibility to initiate any such arrangement. However, I will find out what is the position because it is something that should be given attention since there are millions of tons of oil being carried past our south coast.

I am calling Question No. 23.

Perhaps I would be allowed one supplementary. Can the Minister indicate whether he has raised this question with the EEC Council of Ministers responsible for the environment and is he aware of whether there is an EEC contingency plan in this regard as distinct from the specific Franco-British arrangement?

Since the disaster off the cost of France I have not taken part in any Council meetings.

Is there any proposal for such an arrangement?

I would be prepared to consider such a proposal should I find that it is my responsibility as Minister for the Environment but when Deputy Barry introduced the Bill I have referred to he was Minister for Transport and Power.

Has not the Minister assumed responsibility for environmental matters?

Not for all of them.