asked the Taoiseach if he will state in respect of page 7 of the explanatory notes of the Census of Ireland, 1981 Form A, Question 5 (iii) Marital Status, which states that the category "Other Status" relates only to persons who have obtained a divorce in another country, whether a person who has obtained a legal separation or a Catholic Church annulment should so indicate their status on this form.

The persons mentioned by the Deputy should be returned as married since, for census purposes, all persons who in civil law are not free to marry, because of a previous marriage, are regarded as married.

Has the explanatory note in the census form, which relates to the fact that people with "other status" can only put down other status where they have obtained a divorce in another country, any legal import and force? What is the legal status of that explanatory note?

I imagine it has got legal status as it is an official document issued by the State.

In the case of a deserted woman, whose former husband has divorced her abroad and he has remarried and is no longer married to her by any stretch of legal or other imagination, why is that woman obliged to put down on the census form "married"?

Because that is her legal status.

Could I implore my colleague, the Minister of State to consider this? In the case of a woman who has been deserted by her husband who has gone to the UK, where he has not only obtained a divorce but remarried, is that woman obliged legally, as would appear from this form, to describe herself as being married?

In the eyes of the law, her status would be married.

Is the Minister of State saying seriously that not only must such a woman describe herself as being married but that if she fails to do so she is committing a statutory offence?

All that is involved is that she is asked to state her legal status.

Like the break-up of the Coalition, the couple might come together again.

This is beyond the comprehension of the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry.

The divorce of the Coalition is beyond everyone's comprehension.

Please, Deputies.

If a woman in the position I have described refuses to describe herself as married for the purpose of the census form, is she leaving herself open to a statutory prosecution?

Without going into specific cases, the general situation is that there are regulations for dealing with cases concerning the filling in of certain forms.

I am calling Deputy Quinn.

I give way in sheer despair.

The Deputy must not despair.

In relation to the supplementaries that have been partly answered by the Minister in respect of Question No. 5, what would be the position if a person's legal status is open to interpretation or confirmation by a court and therefore not clear, as indicated by Deputy Desmond? Can a person, man or woman, but invariably woman, who has been divorced and whose former partner has remarried but is living in this State though not being charged with bigamy by the organs of the State, put down "other status" on the census form and not be guilty of conveying false information?

She would be required to indicate her legal status.

That record is wearing thin. Would the Minister answer the question, please?

The Deputy's record is somewhat thin, also, today.

Because of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to raise the matter on the Adjournment.

The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.

Do I understand the Minister of State to say that the only category of persons who could put themselves under the heading of "other" would be persons who were divorced?

That is the position as outlined in the explanatory memorandum.

The answer I gave was that persons such as those referred to by the Deputy should be returned as married since, for census purposes, all persons who in civil law are not free to marry because of a previous marriage are regarded as married.

I understand that the only person who is entitled to put himself or herself under the heading of "other" is somebody who has been divorced and that other categories such as those mentioned here are ruled out. Is that the case?

I will give the answer again.

I am asking a question.

This is turning into a debate.

We wish to have the matter clarified.

I shall allow a final supplementary from Deputy FitzGerald.

Am I to understand from the Minister's reply that only those who have been divorced are entitled to enter themselves under the heading "other"?

As I have said several times, a person is expected to declare his or her legal status.

But what is the legal status of "other"?

Can the Minister give me a "yes" or a "no" answer?

I am calling Question No. 7.

I have answered the question.

That is not so.

If the word "other" does not mean single and does not mean married what does it mean?

What is the purpose of including the word "other" in the form?

I am calling on the Minister to answer the next question.

7.