asked the Minister for Energy the way in which he intends to price the output of natural gas to the various users in the future to ensure the most productive use of this resource.

I am at present reviewing gas pricing policy and hope to reach conclusions on this subject in the fairly near future.

Where does the Minister stand in relation to the Fianna Fáil commitment in the Programme for National Recovery, which says that the system which creams off maximum short term profit for the State through high prices for natural gas would be changed to a system of flexible pricing with gas at favourable rates in key areas? How does he gel his party's view of pricing with that of the NESC report on the pricing of natural gas which favoured all users being charged a price which would clear the market?

The terms of reference of my review of the gas policy are exactly as those read from the Fianna Fáil Programme for National Recovery. That section of the programme is the guiding principle in my review and I have not come to a decision on it yet. However, I am seeing how it can be implemented.

Would the Minister answer the second part of my supplementary? How does he see that as being consistent with the NESC recommendation that users of natural gas should be charged a price that would clear the market, in other words, all users being charged the same price?

There are varying pricing structures at the moment, from industrial to residential to other uses, ESB, NET and so on, and I am reviewing the overall scheme. I will be making announcements on this in the near future.

Does the Minister not accept that——

We must move on. I am calling Deputy McDowell.