asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy if, as one of the cross-Border proposals for co-operation with the North of Ireland, the Government would consider the establishment of a joint North-South natural gas pipe line supply from Britain, and if the nature of the proposal would justify the capital cost of such a venture and ensure gas at a reasonable price for consumers.

Opportunities for discussing and reviewing all aspects of energy co-operation exist in the framework of Anglo-Irish co-operation, including the subject raised by the Deputy. A decision to make natural gas available from Britain is in the first instance, however, a matter for the British authorities.

Will the Minister state if any negotiations have taken place and if we have been involved in any way? Has it been indicated to us that such a North-South deal, a truly national deal, would be considered sympathetically in the interests of people North and South?

Very preliminary discussions have taken place about the possibility of gas being supplied by Britain to Ireland. Those discussions had reached only a preliminary stage when the general election in Britain was called. No further discussions can take place until that has been resolved.

Will they take place afterwards?

I hope so.

12.

asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy the plans, if any, for the extension to Limerick city area of the supply of natural gas from the Kinsale gas development and, if so, if he will indicate when it is proposed to have the necessary work carried out.

There are no plans under consideration at present for supplying the Limerick city area with natural gas from the Kinsale field.

Will the Minister state when there will be a supply of natural gas for the Limerick area from the Kinsale field? As a member of the council in Limerick, the Minister advocated that such a supply should be made available to the citizens.

The demand for gas in Limerick city is so small that clearly it would be uneconomic to seek to pipe gas there especially for that purpose.

How small is small?

About five million cubic feet per day.