Martin Cullen
Ceist:140 Mr. Cullen asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications if his Department has received any proposals to upgrade the oil refinery at Whitegate, County Cork, which involve a joint venture partnership with a private sector company interested in investing in modernisation of the facility, including catalytic cracking technology; if so, whether he considers these proposals could secure the long term future viability of the refinery; whether he has obtained independent evaluation as to whether these proposals offer good value; whether he intends to have any studies carried out to validate the proposals' capital costs and project economics; if not, the reason therefor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5199/95]