I want to make the point that by way of supplementary a question was being asked on this question which was the subject of Question No. 37 nominated for priority by me. I was concerned that I would not have an opportunity to put that question myself. Regarding this current question, I would like to ask the Minister under Question No. 16 whether the British Minister's failure to inform him of this test was a breach of an agreement he had with his counterpart.

It is a matter of concern to me that the British Government did not notify the Irish Government in relation to it. While there is no written agreement, I would have considered it to be a courtesy matter and at least a matter of moral responsibility if there was not a legal responsibility.

Can I take it from the Minister's reply that he is pursuing through the EURATOM Treaty procedures for preventing the test from taking place?

If possible.

Is that what the Minister has in mind in approaching that section of the EURATOM Treaty?

That is one of the avenues available to me and all avenues are being examined to try to stop these experiments being carried out. They are far greater in our view than mere tests. They are experiments on plants which have already gone beyond their projected lifespan. They should be closed rather than experimented on to try to eke their life out further.