Is the Minister aware that, according to the CII, energy costs here are running at 20 per cent higher than our European counterparts? Is he further aware that according to the same sources, manufacturing unemployment here is running at 21 per cent? In the context of those figures, will the Minister make better use of natural gas to assist manufacturing industry and unemployment?

I am not not in a position to agree or disagree with the Deputy's suggestions as to the CII figures. I have been aware for the past two years or so that we have higher energy costs. We have taken certain steps to reduce those costs to keep industry competitive and I will be announcing further progress in that area very shortly.

Would the Minister not agree that the major step he could take would be to bring forward an integrated energy policy, particularly with manufacturing industry in mind? Would he not agree that it is outrageous that we have not had an integrated energy policy designed around the need to create employment and to boost Irish industry? We seem to be going in all directions — the ESB are going in one direction, Bord Gáis in another and manufacturing unemployment is running at 21 per cent ——

The Deputy is having a discussion on energy which is not in order.

As Minister with responsibility for energy I have regular discussions with the relevant semi-State bodies in relation to having an integrated energy policy. One of the lessons of the seventies throughout Europe was that, irrespective of energy policies, there are many factors outside the control of individual Governments. I have had many discussions with my counterparts at European Energy Council meetings. One has to keep a certain amount of fluidity in energy policy to take account of, for example, the sharp drop in oil prices that we have seen in the last number of months. Energy policy is reviewed on an ongoing basis and I believe it is satisfactory at the present time.