asked the Taoiseach if he will state in respect of recent representations to his Department concerning the 1981 census, whether any further decision has been taken by the Government to request the Central Statistics Office to widen the question on marital status in the census form to include the categories "separated", "divorced" and "deserted"; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

: As I indicated in reply to similar questions on 14 May last, the 1981 census form will not include a question relating to marital breakdown.

: Can the Minister say if there is any prospect of any reconsideration by the Government of this matter, if there is any chance of a change of heart on their part in regard to the revival of this question?

: I have nothing to add to my reply.

: Will the Minister not agree that there has been considerable criticism of the failure of the Government to give citizens who happen to be separated, divorced or deserted an opportunity to indicate on the census form what their marital status is?

: It is the duty of the Government to protect the privacy of citizens and of families.

: Is this not a continuation of the hypocrisy in regard to this matter?

: Are these census forms not private in any case? They are not disclosed to any person. I am trying to discover the point of all this. If, as Deputy Desmond has suggested, it is left to the individual citizen whether to indicate these features of marital status on the form, and if no person other than the enumerator then sees the form, surely privacy is protected adequately?

: On May 14 last I replied at length to this question. I have discussed the matter with the body interested in this point and I have nothing further to add.

: Can the Minister confirm on behalf of the Department of the Taoiseach if a request was made to the Central Statistics Office to have such a question included on the census form? In all fairness to the Taoiseach, the opposition to the inclusion of this question has not come from the office of the Minister of State but from nameless and unaccountable persons, in democratic terms bureaucrats in the CSO? Can the Minister confirm or deny whether, in an attempt to meet a reasonable request, his Department are trying to put up a valiant defence of bureaucrats in the CSO? Does not the refusal to meet this request come from nameless and faceless bureaucrats in the CSO?

: I am standing over the answer I gave. It is my answer and it is totally unfair to attack civil servants in this way.

: Is the Minister denying the allegation that I am formally and responsibly making?

: I have nothing more to add. The Deputy is making a most unfair attack on the civil service.

: Can the Minister refute it? Can we take it that it is the CSO who are calling the shots?

: The Deputy can assume what he likes.