asked the Minister for the Environment if he will request local authorities to make it a condition that lead-free petrol would be available to motorists at such stations in the granting of planning permissions for future petrol stations.

The level of lead in petrol to be sold at a proposed petrol filling station would not be a consideration which could properly be taken into account in dealing with a planning application. In addition, the 1978 EEC directive on the lead content of petrol prohibits member states from establishing lead in petrol levels lower than 0.15 grammes per litre.

The European Communities (Lead Content of Petrol) (Amendment) Regulations, 1982, provide for a maximum permissible lead level in petrol marketed in this country of 0.40 grammes per litre, bringing us into line with EEC requirements. The extent to which lead levels in petrol can be further reduced or totally eliminated in Ireland depends mainly on action taken at international level.

In June 1983 the Council of Ministers (Environment) of the European Communities discussed the matter and indicated its willingness to try to reduce, as much as possible, the level of lead in petrol ending up, perhaps, with the use of leadless petrol. Since then, the Commission, together with a panel of experts, have completed a study of the matter and are due to put forward proposals resulting from that study in the near future.

Would the Minister agree that our record in reducing lead levels in petrol has been poor compared with other countries in the EEC and that the figures show that? Would he agree that the question of putting a planning condition for new petrol stations would be appropriate having regard to the fact that the criterion is the proper planning, development and environment of the area? Surely a lead free environment is something which he as Minister of State at the Department of the Environment would have very close to his heart?

On a planning matter you could not impose such a condition. If you did the person might not be able to get supplies of petrol, or he might be totally uncompetitive. If there was such a requirement and the person took it to court I have no doubt that would be the decision. I am not into that business. We are making progress at the Council of Ministers. We will be having meetings in June, and further meetings when we have the Presidency. I am optimistic about the matter. We want to get it across at international level. That would be a better way of dealing with it than in a piecemeal fashion.

Is it not a fact that our standards are poor in comparison with the rest of the EEC?

Our standards conform with the present directive. I am not saying that is satisfactory. This will be before the Council of Minister. It is an ongoing situation. I hope the matter will be resolved as early as possible.