In view of the long delay in bringing the pipeline to Drogheda and Dundalk and taking into account the implications and delays involved in feasibility studies, it will be light years before we in Donegal can hope to have a supply of natural gas. In view of the chronic economic situation in that country and the hardship involved in trying to keep industry operating there, would the Minister consider relieving the industrial sector in Donegal by way of a subsidy in respect of ESB charges? We are entitled to that kind of concession. At least we are entitled to be compensated by way of a concession in respect of the source of energy we can produce in Donegal.

That is somewhat a different question. There is no proposal before me in relation to considering a variety of charges for electricity to customers in Donegal or for that matter in Mayo, Galway or Kerry. In terms of an island energy policy or of our industrial policy, a system of variable charges would be the beginning of the end of any sort of pricing policy for energy.