The Minister will be aware that a major problem will arise when the ESB generating station at Moneypoint goes into operation in 1985. The Minister will also be aware that substantial grants and loans are available to install in the chimneys at Moneypoint the necessary sophisticated equipment to ensure that pollution will be kept to the minimum.

I appeal to the Deputy in all seriousness not to make long speeches every time he gets up.

It is a very important problem and a major one.

That may be and perhaps the Deputy should request a special debate if the problem is that serious. That disqualifies it all the more for dealing with it at Question Time.

I was putting a supplementary question to the Minister.

The Deputy was making a supplementary speech.

I was asking the Minister if he was aware of the imminent threat that will arise as a result of the Moneypoint station. Now is the time to act because the chimneys will be completed soon and the factory will be brought into production some time in 1985. Grants and loans are available from the Community but they have not been availed of and I ask the Minister to use his influence to see this is done.

The Deputy is asking me to give my view on certain questions.

I am asking the Minister to use his influence.

I am as aware as he is of the dangers. The fact is it is not within the aegis of my Department to decide what goes in to the chimneys at Moneypoint.

What comes out of the chimneys is the Minister's responsibility.

Yes, and I am concerned about that. The Deputy can be assured that this matter will receive the attention it deserves at the appropriate level.

I was not clear from the Minister's first reply if inter-departmental discussions are taking place in relation to problems that may arise from plants such as Moneypoint.

There are statutory regulations governing all inter-departmental discussions in relation to these matters. As I said before, the Deputy can be assured that the attention these matters are getting is commensurate with their importance.