asked the Minister for Industry and Energy if he is aware of the importance to industry and services in County Louth of the need to extend the natural gas pipeline from Dublin to the Border via County Louth; if he is further aware that a decision on his part in regard to this matter would help to secure existing jobs in this Border county and help to secure new jobs for the unemployed; and if he will make a statement on this important matter.

As the Deputy may be aware, negotiations are at an advanced stage on a possible agreement for the supply of Kinsale natural gas to Northern Ireland.

If the pipeline to the North is to be constructed, due consideration will, of course, be given to making supplies of natural gas available in the Louth area. I am aware of the potential benefits of such a supply. Natural gas is a valuable national asset and I must point out that in the interests of the country as a whole, natural gas supplies will only be made available to those industries which are prepared to pay a realistic price for it.

Will the Minister assure us that the towns along the route of the proposed pipeline to Belfast will be given supplies of natural gas?

It will depend on when the final route has been established. Then the matter will become clear.

Is the Minister suggesting that it may happen that Dundalk and Drogheda will not get supplies of natural gas?

I am not saying that at all. We are most anxious to make natural gas available to the major centres near the site of the pipeline.

The Minister said it would depend on where the line would be drawn. Will he positively state that the two most important towns in the country will get natural gas?

If it is technically and financially possible to bring a supply of natural gas to Drogheda and Dundalk my Department will be favourably disposed to considering it.

If the route of the Dublin to Belfast pipeline will be via Drogheda and Dundalk will the Minister tell us if he will make a supply available to the Cooley Peninsula, considering the favourable conditions there for glasshouses?

That is a hypothetical question.

Will the Minister not accept that it is he and he alone who will decide whether the pipeline will go through Drogheda and Dundalk? There would be no other sensible route unless the Minister wanted to put it on the seabed.

The Deputy is now giving evidence about the correct line.

The Minister does not seem to have the right evidence so I am giving this for his information. Is he aware there are industries in that area that will not survive unless there is some relief given to them? If there is no quick decision to send the pipeline there, relief will have to be given through easement of the hydrocarbon tax. I am sure the Minister is aware of the serious situation that has arisen there because of energy costs.

There are a number of questions. I would be very happy to have the natural gas brought to the two towns. It will take some time to bring the pipeline to the Border, assuming agreement can be reached, and we all hope it can be reached. With regard to hydrocarbon tax, when he was in Government he had the opportunity——

Who gives the decision in regard to the route? I gave the lead.

The Deputy knows my Department will decide the route.

Was I hearing clearly? Will the Minister not agree that it would be inconceivable lunacy to attempt to bring natural gas through to Belfast without going through Drogheda and Dundalk?

I said I am favourably disposed towards bringing natural gas through Drogheda and Dundalk. It is a technical matter. There is no problem.

Will the Minister not agree that it is not a question of being favourably disposed, but that it would be economic madness to bring the gas by pipeline to Belfast and not to supply Drogheda and Dundalk en route?

I said there is no problem.

Therefore, the Minister will supply both towns?

As soon as the technical matters can be resolved, as soon as the Department are agreed that the financial matters have been catered for. Until these matters have been settled I cannot give that assurance.

I take it that the two towns will get the gas. In those circumstances will the Minister ensure that the above-ground installations will be located at the optimum point of access to the market, in other words as close to the two towns as possible?

The Deputy can take that to be the case.

The Minister will agree that was not done in the original plan. The closer the pipeline will be to the towns the less the cost will be.

I am not sure if the Deputy is referring to possible plans for the pipeline accepted by his colleague, Deputy Reynolds. The question should have been addressed to Deputy Reynolds when he was in office.

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