asked the Minister for Justice if the Government are giving consideration to the reduction of the age of majority.

The law relating to the age of majority is under examination by the Law Reform Commission. The commission issued a working paper on the subject in December 1977. The recommendations which the commission will make in their final report on the matter will of course be considered by the Government.

Has the Minister any idea when that might be forthcoming?

I have not.

Is there any way the Minister can act as a catalyst?

I mean this quite sincerely but I fear very much that I would seem to be acting as a catalyst. Despite all the many pressures there are on all of us to bring about certain reforms in the law, in the event of us pushing, rushing or seen to be doing so, what might emerge might not be what we would all like to see in good law.

Does the Minister not think they are a long time producing a report?

Yes, but there are very basic matters under consideration. I accept that the pressures are on me more than anybody else. I have to carry the load of the pressures. I know they are doing their job diligently and properly. They are not answerable to me as Minister for Justice. I would like to think that what they are doing, despite the pressures on all of us, is appreciated by the community as a whole and that their very difficult task is understood.