In relation to Question No. 9, I should like to ask the Minister if he is prepared to make arrangements for the reopening of yards such as the Ross Company who have experience in this field? In a written reply to a question put by me the Minister stated that Irish interests earned £66 million to date, or one-third of the total available business in oil exploration. What does he intend to do to improve the situation to ensure that Irish interests get all of the business?

That seems to be widening the scope of the question.

It is along the lines of Question No. 9.

It is not really, but I am prepared to answer the Deputy. The Ross Company is in receivership and the IDA are actively pursuing the possibility of a viable take-over for the yard.

We cannot have a debate on the receivership of some company.

It is an Irish interest.

There is an endless list of items that are of Irish interest but we cannot deal with them without notice at Question Time.

If the find proves to be commercial I would expect a higher interest in a take-over of the Ross Company. However, this is not yet established and is outside my control. With regard to the involvement of Irish business interests in serving the oil industry, of the market available to Irish business interests over the past few years there has been Irish participation of up to 85 per cent.

Some of the market is not available to Ireland. For instance, we do not have our own rigs so we simply cannot sell, hire or rent them to exploring companies. Of the available market to Irish business and industry we have a market penetration of approximately 85 per cent.