Would the Minister spell out the role of his Department in regard to this matter and could he indicate whether his Department have undertaken any studies regarding the potential for employment and if there is a market for this anthracite coal?

We are, of course, aware of the Ballingarry coal field and in particular of the mine for which Flair Resources hold the licence but who are now in receivership and liquidation, and of Tipperary Anthracite Ltd., a part of Flair Resources, which is in liquidation. Our involvement has been very benign and we have indicated to the receiver that the Minister will have no objection to the study carried out by Kelvin Energy and that he is prepared to assign the lease to them provided the company wish to mine and can convince the Minister that they have the necessary financial, managerial and technical resources to establish and maintain viable mining operations at Ballingarry. It is our primary responsibility to issue a mining licence and we do so when our conditions regarding management, technical viability and finances are met. In this case we have gone quite a distance in giving some comfort to Kelvin in regard to the Minister issuing mining licences, assuming that certain criteria are met. However, since there are legal problems in the matter I do not wish to comment further except to say that my Department have been most helpful and are concerned to have this matter brought to a successful conclusion.

Deputy Reynolds rose.

I must move on.