The Minister spoke about emissions from industrial projects and there is also the question of acid rain. Will the Minister indicate what action his Department are taking with regard to emissions from the coal-burning station in Clare?

That is a general question.

The Minister raised the issues in his reply. It is a major question——

The Deputy asked what action was being pursued in the Department and I gave some instances. These matters will be coming up for discussion at the meeting of the Council of Ministers in December.

What are the Irish Ministers doing, for instance, with regard to emissions from the station in Clare? The Minister said they were proceeding on this policy and I have asked him a specific question with regard to a major plant in the country.

It is not specific. The question relates to the country and what is happening in the context of the EC. Standards are being set within the EC for this and this matter——

The Minister told us he had a policy but when I asked a question he did not give me a reply.

These matters are ongoing. The Deputy asked a question about protection of the environment——

I asked the Minister a supplementary question but he could not answer it. He has waffled on, talking about the control of emissions but yet when I asked a question he could not reply.

I will not allow a debate on the matter. I am calling Question No. 14.

The Minister could not give me a reply. He should read his brief.

The Deputy should have a bit of sense. I have read my brief.

I have called Question No. 14.

I resent the way the Minister handled the question. I asked him a supplementary question but it appears he was not in a position to answer it.

Question No. 14.