asked the Minister for Energy when discussions commenced between his Department and Gulf-Chevron regarding the take over of Whiddy Oil Terminal; when the draft agreement was completed; when the final agreement was concluded; if all the moneys due on foot of this agreement have been received by the Government; and, if so, the date.

The formal negotiations in question took place on 11, 12 and 17 September 1985 following earlier exchanges about the commercial feasibility of the terminal. Work on drafting the legal agreement with Chevron commenced shortly after my announcement to the House on 5 December 1985 of the elements of the agreed package and is now almost completed. As soon as final legal clearances have been obtained, the agreement will be signed and $44 million in cash will be paid over to the State.

It appears that no money has been received by the Exchequer so far in this matter, though in recent times there was a helicopter escapade to west Cork to announce that money would be available and to give money to the local authorities to do various work. That was in advance of any money being received from the company. I am glad to hear that the matter has not been finalised because there is a number of companies, some large and some small, who have incurred considerable expense in relation to tendering for the rebuilding of the Whiddy terminal. Is the Minister aware that Gulf-Chevron are reneging on their responsibilities to those companies who can ill afford to be at such loss? Is the Minister aware also that Gulf-Chevron have been awarded $114 million compensation in the London High Court in respect of the destruction of the terminal? Since the companies who have tendered have incurred considerable expense, would the Minister take the matter up with Gulf-Chevron with a view to having them meet their obligations in relation not only to the companies I am referring to but to the workers at Whiddy?

The Deputy may rest assured that the $44 million will be paid to the State.

There has not been any announcement yet of the final date by which the money is to be paid.

I am aware of the expense that certain companies had committed themselves to in relation to tendering on contracts for the rebuilding of the jetty. One of these companies in particular have contacted me and I have referred them to Gulf-Chevron. I am prepared to take the word of the Deputy that a number of companies are having difficulty in this matter and, consequently, I will take the issue up with Gulf-Chevron.

Is the Minister aware that the total amount involved in this case fell far short of the $60 million agreement that was reached with the Government? Will he agree that that was the figure that was used to bring about the compensation award in the London High Court, a factor that I pointed out to the Minister last year?

Considering that in the past Deputy Reynolds said in this House that, if the company had offered a few million dollars he might have accepted a deal, I submit that we have done very well in acquiring the assets of Whiddy and in reaching agreement for the payment of $44 million. In addition, we had already received $2 million.

The Minister is not in any position to say what I would or would not have accepted.

I have read the files.

The Minister is sliding away from the question. Before the High Court case in London a solemn agreement was entered into between the company and the Government and that involved a compensatory amount of $60 million. In the event the Government settled for $44 million, but they have not got a penny of that amount yet.

I am in a position to say what Deputy Reynolds would have done because I have it on record that he said that, if he had been offered a few million dollars, he would have accepted the offer.

Can the Minister produce the record instead of trying to do the same as he did in relation to Deputy Mac Giolla this evening?

This is the Mickey Moran trick. We have done extraordinarily well in this matter.

The Government have not received any of the money yet.