asked the Minister for Industry and Energy the proposals the Government have to ensure that there will be adequate refining capacity within the State to process oil from the Celtic Sea.

There has not yet been confirmation of a commercially viable offshore deposit in the Celtic Sea. However, studies are at present in progress of the implications for the economy, under various headings including the processing question, of commercial oil production in that area.

To some extent the question has been dealt with in previous supplementaries but the question of whether Whitegate will be upgraded in order to be able to cope with any oil find has to be dealt with. Could the Minister indicate if any studies have been made in relation to what would be required to ensure that Whitegate will be capable of coping with a find?

I have already indicated that there is an inter-departmental committee at present examining the whole question of the consequences of an oil find. Of course, that matter is one which will be under consideration by the inter-departmental committee.

Question No. 12.

May I ask one final supplementary?

If the Deputy thinks that his supplementaries have already been dealt with, I assure him he will not lose any marks by not asking them.

I said most of them but there are still a number of areas which need to be covered. It may not be a very big oil field but it is certainly a big field. I am sure the Minister is aware that Whitegate only has the capacity to serve about 50 per cent of the Irish market. If there are no private proposals for additional refineries in the State are the Government considering providing an additional refinery in order to provide for the total oil capacity in the State?

The answer is no, the Government are not considering the establishment of any new refineries in the State. However, if private interests come forth with concrete proposals, they will be fully processed by my Department.