Is the Minister aware that in fact I issued a directive, in regard to the purchase of the Whitegate refinery, that the lead content would be the same as that in other EEC countries? Now I think we are moving towards a situation where we will have lead-free petrol and I think this is correct. Could the Minister expand on the future role of the Irish National Petroleum Corporation and in particular could he say whether it is intended to expand State contracts for the supply of oil with the oil producing countries? Would he also state the present position in regard to the State contracts for the supply of oil?

I believe that the intention is to expand the present role of the company. It will have other functions also.