I should like the Minister to clarify one aspect of his reply to Deputy Bruton in relation to the pricing of natural gas. Does he accept that there has to be a market clearing price for natural gas rather than the artificial pricing for various sectors? Does he accept that natural gas has to make a return to the State which would be a return from the marketplace rather than an artificial pricing which is the alternative?

The overall principle, as the former Tánaiste will be aware, is that at present Kinsale gas is being looked at on the basis that it is sold at a price not lower than the oil equivalent. What I am looking at is the potential for an injection into the economy, particularly into the industrial area, of natural gas at a lower price which would be a boost to industry. This matter is being reviewed but I have not yet reached a final decision on it.

A final short supplementary.

Does the Minister not accept that if we have a system where discounted prices are being given to selected users, we are talking about the inefficient use of a very scarce resource and we are further talking about a hidden subsidy to industrial users the precise extent of which this House will never know?

It will not be on the basis of individual users because there is no power under the Act to do that, but to particular sectors of the economy. We see the potential of using natural gas as a boost to industry at a time when it is facing strong competition from abroad. We believe this is an area which deserves a review which we are undertaking.