asked the Minister for Energy if he intends publishing details of the emergency plan in advance of the pilot run which he promised for June, 1988; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

The Government have decided to defer consideration of the publication of details of the nuclear emergency plan pending the carrying out of a test which will be held next month on practical implementation of its features and identification of modifications that may be desirable in the light of the experience gained in the test. The question of publication of the plan will be decided after the test has been carried out.

How does the Minister intend to carry out a test of the plan if those involved are not to have access to details?

A particular test is to be carried out and all those involved are familiar with their role. It is a question of seeing how that section of the plan operates. It will involve communication between the meteorological service, the Garda, RTE, the NEB, convening the nuclear accident committee at the emergency control centre, analysis of travel of hypothetical radioactive clouds by the meteorological service and a test of the Civil Defence arrangements. As far as the publication of the plan is concerned, I would refer the Deputy to a speech made at my instigation by one of my officials at an Eastern Regional Development Organisation seminar in Bray on 1 May 1987. A broad outline of the plan was given and I can arrange for a copy of the speech to be made available to the Deputy.