asked the Minister for Industry and Energy if he will outline his intentions regarding the supply of natural gas to Northern Ireland; and if he will particularly outline (a) the quantities involved on an annual basis; (b) the pricing policy to be adopted by him; (c) the route to be taken; and (d) if an underwater route has been considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

The Government believe that mutual co-operation in energy between North and South can be of major benefit to both communities. A supply of natural gas to the North would provide an opportunity to develop a cooperative venture with potential for mutual advantages.

Very recently I met the responsible Minister in Northern Ireland, Mr. Adam Butler, and we discussed certain issues outstanding. Progress was made and we agreed that certain officials would examine the main unresolved questions before the Ministers meet again in the very near future. Since questions relating to quantities and pricing arrangements still remain to be finally settled, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on them at the present time.

All options on the routing of a possible pipeline to the North will be evaluated fully. Until this evaluation has reached a more advanced stage than at present I will not be in a position to make a statement on the feasibility of the suggestion at (c) of the Deputy's question.

On the schedule of construction that the Minister is now adhering to, I had thought that, based on our contracts with the Belfast authorities, we could see the agreement already signed, work got under way before the Summit and the project completed by next year.

I find it very difficult to understand the question the Deputy is now asking. When he left office he must surely have been fully aware——

Thanks for the compliment.

——that all the problems relating to the Cork-Dublin gas line in relation to acquisition and CPOs were not dealt with by him before he left office. How he can suggest in this House that the programme for bringing to Belfast gas which has been brought from Cork in the first instance, could be completed in the time-scale he is talking about is beyond my comprehension.

the Minister is now talking to a low common denominator not even up to the style of his earlier answers to questions today.

Relating to the schedule of construction previously agreed on the Dublin-Belfast line which, as the Minister knows, is a separate matter, of course the gas must come to Dublin and that schedule is being adhered to. In the course of these discussions——

Not talking of any assistance you are getting.

That remark is uncalled for.

Deputy Collins must be fully aware that 129 files have to be gone through, that a contract was signed for starting on 1 April with a tenancy clause on it ——

Please allow the Minister to speak.

Deputy O'Leary, please complete your supplementary.

Does the Minister believe, in the light of his dealings with the Belfast authorities, that the previous schedule can be adhered to?

The Deputy knows full well that the discussions had not reached that point at the time he left office. If they had, the negotiations would have been finalised long ago, but it was not the position and he knows that quite well.

Would the Minister try to ensure that in any studies regarding the direction of the pipeline to the north of Ireland, to Belfast, if it is going near the towns north of Dublin, that is Drogheda and Dundalk, the possibility of supplying natural gas to these large towns will be considered?

The Deputy can be assured that these towns will be considered when the gas pipeline is going out.

The remaining questions will appear on the Order Paper for Wednesday, 26 May 1982.