asked the Minister for the Environment the plans he has for the elimination of lead from petrol sold in this country and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Proposals for the elimination of lead from petrol were presented by the EC Commission to the Council on 6 June 1984. The proposals envisage that, as from 1 July 1989, all new types of vehicles must function with unleaded petrol and that this requirement would be extended to all new vehicles placed on the market from 1 October 1991. Member states would be required to take all necessary measures to ensure that unleaded petrol is marketed throughout their territory from 1 July 1989 but would be permitted to require the marketing of unleaded petrol from 1 January 1986. In addition, to achieve a substantial reduction in lead emissions as soon as possible, the maximum lead content of petrol would be reduced from 0.4 grammes/litre to 0.15 grammes/litre as from 1 July 1989.

The Commission's proposals have been the subject of negotiations at official level between the member states and will be considered in detail at the meeting of the Council of Ministers (Environment) next December. Irish reaction at EC level to the proposals has been one of welcome and support on environmental and health grounds and as President of the Council, the Minister will make every effort to secure that agreement is reached as quickly as possible.

What is the present lead content level of petrol sold on the market? What steps are the Department taking to reduce the levels to the EC level of 0.15 grammes?

It is to be reduced from 0.4 grammes to 0.15 grammes. We import 60 per cent of petrol and refine 40 per cent. We could import unleaded petrol.

Perhaps the Minister does not have the information. What is the lead content level of petrol on sale at petrol pumps in the State?

I can only conclude that it is 0.4 grammes. That might not be correct. We will be conforming to the 0.15 level as from 1 July 1989.

The Minister must be aware that there is considerable concern, particularly in densely populated urban areas, about lead pollution from petrol. My question was to ask the Minister what steps were being taken to achieve lead free petrol. Can the Minister indicate if there is a plan in existence in his Department which provides for the reduction of the lead content in petrol between now and 1989?

As I indicated in my reply we welcome——

It is not enough to welcome it. That is no use. Is there any plan in the Department?

We fully support the EC proposals and are anxious to push them through by that date. We asked the Whitegate refinery to ensure that it is equipped to deal with the reduction by 1989. We are fully committed to the EC proposal and we are anxious that it will be put through by 6 December. That is a firm commitment and an attempt by the Government to ensure that the lead in petrol is reduced. We cannot go further than that.

This is developing into an argument.

It is not.

It sounds like it to me.

The present maximum level is 0.4 grammes per litre. From information available to me it seems that the content is higher than that in Irish petrol at present. We were given a derogation——

The Deputy is giving information.

The Minister of State seems to be in need of this information.

The Deputy will have to find another opportunity to give it to him.

What plans have the Department to reduce lead in petrol to the present existing minimum of 0.15 grammes per litre which was established some years ago by the EC and is not what will be established in December?

That is the fourth time the Deputy has asked that question.

The Minister failed to answer it.

I am not responsible for that.

It is only when and if this is agreed that we will be obliged——

It is there already. There is an EC directive——

There is not. We will be obliged to have a level of 0.15 grammes per litre from 1989. We will fulfil that obligation and we are hopeful that it will be put through by 6 December.

There is an EC directive on that at present.