asked the Minister for Justice whether he is in a position to state when proposals for legislation will be introduced dealing with the present unsatisfactory position of District Court clerks; and, if so, whether he is prepared to make a statement generally on the subject.

Legislation is necessary only to provide for those District Court clerks who qualify for establishment and I hope to be able to introduce such legislation on the reassembly of the Dáil next Autumn. I do not consider that a statement on the subject at this stage would serve any useful purpose.

The Minister will appreciate that considerable delay has already taken place in connection with this matter and is he not prepared to give an assurance to the House that, when it does reassemble, he will ensure that the legislation which he has now forecast will be put through with the least possible delay?

Will the Minister state whether the proposed legislation will also affect Circuit Court clerks?

The last supplementary is a bit different.

It is a different question.

I can assure Deputy O'Sullivan that this is a firm promise to introduce legislation on the reassembly of the House. I sincerely regret the delay in dealing with this matter, but the difficulties are fairly hard to overcome.