In the event of the oil find being successful will the Minister assure the House that Whitegate oil refinery will not be by-passed and that its refining capacity will be utilised to the maximum in relation to the oil find?

We have our own refinery which is operating. It would be natural to use the Whitegate refinery for any oil find. I wish we had this find declared commercial before we start spending all the money. We do not know the extent of the find. If there is to be a commercial find we do not know if it will be a small, medium or large find and all the economic complexities involved in such a find, if it is declared commercial, are being examined by an inter-departmental committee. All the options, available, such as the upgrading of the refinery, are under examination.

May I ask the Minister——

No. A Supplementary from Deputy Gene Fitzgerald and a final supplementary from the Deputy who put down the question, Deputy De Rossa.