asked the Minister for Energy the percentage of the natural gas which An Bord Gáis purchase from Marathon that is supplied to NET.

Of the total quantity of natural gas received by Bord Gáis Éireann from Marathon in 1980 the percentage supplied to NET was approximately 46 per cent.

How does that compare with what was originally for NET?

It is slightly higher than the percentage which was designated for them.

Are Bord Gáis Éireann taking what it was anticipated they would take from Marathon?

I believe so, yes, at the moment.

Are the ESB taking gas? In regard to the spurs which are running to Little Island, Mahon Penninsula, Ringaskiddy and the Cork Gas Consumer's Company has the Minister got a figure for what has been taken from that?

I have not got that figure. It is a different matter from that raised in the question. The ESB are taking a substantial amount. I understand in recent months Cork Gas Company have begun to take gas also.

How much over what is being used in Cork is now available?

I could not say that. I would have to have notice of that. I believe the off-take is satisfactory at the moment.

Up to 100 per cent is being used in Cork.

Would the Minister tell us the price being paid by An Bord Gáis to Marathon?

No.

Why not?

It is a confidential commercial matter.

Long live Bula.

How does the Minister expect the joint committee examining State-sponsored bodies to arrive at a decision on the value of the NET project if we do not know what price is being paid for gas?

Maybe the joint committee know; they seem to be very enlightened about a lot of things.

We were refused that information by the chairman of the board of the company.

Where is Damascus between that side of the House and the side that the Minister now occupies when something that the Minister sought with great tenacity when he occupied the seat now held by Deputy Barry has suddenly become a confidential matter, when the resource is of critical economic importance to this country?

If the Deputy is not aware of the figure that is being sought he must be one of the few——

The House deserves a better answer than that.

Question No. 18.