It is now apparent that the British authorities consider the Irish Sea their entire domain and central to their plans for waste and sewage disposal. In view of the rather poor response the Irish Government have had from the Paris Commission and endorsing the Government's position with regard to finding the British attitude to the Irish Sea and the dumping of waste there completely repugnant, would the Minister consider it appropriate for us to commence proceedings before the European Court of Justice under the provisions of EURATOM as being the only effective way we will ever get the British Government to respond to any of our demands regarding the use of the Irish Sea as a wastage disposal area?

I do not accept what the Deputy said in regard to our lack of success. We succeeded for the first time ever in having a resolution passed. The best available technology had to be used in these plants at Sellafield.

Regarding the response of the British Government, I will continue to lobby them. With regard to alternatives and legal action, the Deputy may not be aware that the Government recently decided to associate themselves with Luxembourg in a case they are taking against the French in relation to discharges from a new plant being built on the Luxembourg border. This is the first time the Government have taken this sort of initiative. Therefore, I would not close off the possibility of further legal action. I do not want to say at this stage that we will take that road immediately. We have already linked ourselves to one European case on this which is further advance than if we were ourselves to start at this stage on a case. We hope that we will get some results from that Luxembourg case.

I realise the importance of this question but I am also concerned that we have encroached for some considerable time into the time available for Priority Questions. I would be grateful if Deputies would assist me in dealing with these questions as expeditiously as possible.

This question is down nominated for priority in my name and I want to ask the Minister——

I was hoping to reach that question, Deputy.

Can I ask one brief supplementary and I will withdraw on the matter?

Thank you, Deputy.