andMr. O'Toole asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy if he has completed inquiries into the clogging of oil used in domestic heating installations, tractors and so on, during the January cold spell; the result of these inquiries; and whether he proposes to prescribe and enforce standards in regard to the quality of such oil in future.

As indicated by me in reply to a previous question on this matter, I have asked the Institute for Industrial Research and Standards to furnish a report on the causes of and possible solution for the problems which arose during the cold spell early this year as a result of the clogging of filters by gas-diesel oil in central heating systems, farm machinery and other equipment. I expect that the report will be available to me by mid-May.

Irrespective of the outcome of the report, which nobody here is technically qualified to anticipate, would the Minister not envisage prescribing and enforcing standards in regard to oil used in domestic heating so that this will not happen again?

That is a matter I will consider when I get the report but it would be premature to make any decisions or statements about it before I see that report.

Surely it would not be premature for the Minister to decide, whatever the report states, that there should be a standard which is publicly prescribed and enforced in regard to oil supplied for domestic heating, for use in tractors and so on. Does he not agree that the standards should be relevant to the problems which very cold weather poses in a country like ours?

I will consider that when I get the report but it would be premature to do so now.

Why is it premature?

There is an urgency about this because the deliveries of oil now being made will include oil which will be carried over into next winter which could then clog up in the same way. For that reason it is urgent that before deliveries of oil now standards should be applied.

The matter will be considered when I get the report. I am told by the IIRS that I will have it in two weeks.