In relation to the natural gas field at Kinsale I think the Minister said that 124 million cubic feet per day was what the prospecting company agreed to deliver. Since then it appears that the field has proved to be larger than expected by about 20 to 30 per cent. Would the Minister say whether it is intended to take this over-supply in the field as an extra amount per day which would bring it up another 40 million cubic feet per day, or extend the life of the field to say 26 or 27 years?

The increase in the estimated reserve is in excess of one-third. I understand there are certain legal consequences under the agreement signed in relation to it of this increased estimate. One of the consequences is an increase in the amount of gas contracted to be supplied and to be taken. So, there is an automatic increase arising under the terms of the contract which I think answers the Deputy's question.

Does this imply that we must take extra gas under the contract or can we extend the life of the field?

My understanding is that we must take a certain amount of extra gas per day depending on the amount of the increase. We have certain options: we do not actually have to take the gas but we have to pay for it and accumulate it. We could, perhaps, do that; that is an option open to us, but basically I understand that the increase in the amount of the reserve involves an increase in the amount that we are obliged to take.

This is a fundamental policy decision on the part of the Government in relation to our natural resources. The Government or the Minister must have some view as to whether it is better for the economy to take more now, as opposed to paying for more now, or to extend the life of the field. What is the Government's view on this?

Perhaps the Deputy did not quite take in what I said.

I did.

It is not a question of what view I or the Government take; it is a question of the contractual obligation which arises under the agreement with the operator of the well.

I understand that the contractual obligation could involve not taking the gas now but paying for it now which would mean that you would have the gas available and paid for in 20 years' time or, making a deliberate decision to pay for the gas and take it out now and absorb it?

The Deputy will appreciate that is a different question. The question of paying for it now and storing it is a different question from whether we should extend——

It is a policy option open to the Government. The sooner the country in general find out what the Government intend to do with this small but significant increase, the better. I think it is essential that the Minister should tell the House.

I suggest that it is a different option from the one the Deputy spoke about.

It is one of the options open to the Government.