asked the Minister for Tourism and Transport the proposals, if any, from the Inter-Government Maritime Consultative Organisation to re-route oil tanker traffic through the Irish Sea.

I am not aware of any such proposals.

Would the Minister inquire if such proposals are being put forward to the organisation in question? It is my information that because of congestion in the English Channel it is proposed to reroute a sizeable amount of shipping through the Irish Sea.

The information that I have in my Department and also the information of the British Department of Trade is that none of them is aware of any IMCO proposals to reroute tanker traffic through the Irish Sea. We got in touch with the IMCO headquarters and it was confirmed there that no proposals are under discussion. However, if the Deputy has any information which he thinks might be useful I should be glad to get it.