asked the Minister for the Environment if the review of arrangements relating to the development of a central facility for the disposal of toxic wastes has yet been completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

The review of arrangements to which I referred in my reply to a question by the Deputy on 1 March 1983 has taken much longer than I anticipated at that time. While considerable progress has since been made, I regret that I am not yet in a position to make a statement in the matter. I can assure the Deputy, however, that when all of the necessary information is available, there will be no avoidable delay on my part in making it available.

I am sure the Minister is aware of the considerable unease concerning the Baldonnel proposals and could he give any indication as to how the review is proceeding, what conclusions he expects to draw, or in what direction he intends to move in relation to the disposal of toxic wastes?

When I came into the position I presently hold a number of decisions in principle had been made and a number of proposals initiated. They were based on assumptions in relation to the amount of toxic wastes that needed to be treated. Detailed studies were then required by me to try to measure exactly the amount involved so that we would be dealing with specified quantities rather than varying figures. It has now emerged it is taking more time to get the details of the actual amounts required to be processed and consequently that has a substantial impact on the kind of facility that needs to be constructed.

I want to apologise to the House. I did not have the Order Paper and I wonder if you would give me the courtesy of allowing the Minister to repeat the answer to Question No. 1.

Deputy Gene Fitzgerald asked me yesterday to postpone it until today and, when he was not here today, I took the liberty of postponing it again and inconvenienced the Tánaiste in so doing and brought a small bit of brimstone on myself.

Thank you.

It is simply postponed.

3.