asked the Minister for Justice if the Government intend to introduce the necessary legislation to implement the recommendations of the Law Reform Commission contained in their report entitled Civil Liability for Animals.

The Deputy is not correct in referring to the Law Reform Commission's document on civil liability for animals as a report. The documents is a working paper and states expressly that it is circulated for comment and criticism and does not represent the final views of the commission. On the assumption that the commission will in due course submit a report on the matter, it will, of course, be considered.

Has the Minister noted a report in the papers recently to the effect that the recommendations of the interim report could not be implemented without amending legislation?

I am not aware of the newspaper report to which the Deputy refers but I would remind him that what he refers to as a report of the Law Reform Commission is not in fact a report but a working paper.

It is a recommendation, then.

That is not so. It is a working paper in which comments are invited. On the receipt of the various comments the commission will make a report and from then on decisions will be made.

Did not the Commission make a recommendation on this matter about Christmas last?

The Deputy is not correct. What is involved is a working paper, of which I have a copy here.

Were not changes recommended?

No, but comments were invited.

Like the Green Paper that is to be issued, it is a civil liability for the manifesto.