asked the Taoiseach if it is his intention to appoint a Minister of State with responsibility for the status of women.

2.

asked the Taoiseach if he will appoint a Minister for Tourism.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together.

As I have already indicated, the final allocation of departmental responsibilities and the additional appointment of Ministers of State is under consideration at present.

Would the Taoiseach answer my question? Is he or is he not appointing a Minister of State with responsibility for the status of women?

I have answered the question. The matter is under consideration at present.

Last June when the Taoiseach had an opportunity to appoint women as spokespersons on women's affairs he made a big issue of it. He is now three months in office. When will his decision on the appointment of a Ministry for the status of women be known?

I have already indicated that the matter is under consideration.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Could the Taoiseach give any indication why he has taken so long to finalise this matter?

It is entirely a matter at my discretion.

Would the Taoiseach agree that it is undesirable that these posts should remain unfilled? Would he indicate whether it is his intention to make these decisions before the Dáil rises?

As I said, the matter is under consideration at present.

(Cavan-Monaghan): Does the Taoiseach agree with the suggestion that the delay in making these appointments is giving the impression that they are not important and, indeed, not necessary?

I have already indicated that I am engaged at the moment on an examination of the re-allocation of departmental responsibility in an endeavour to make the functions administered by some Departments more relevant to the changing circumstances of today. In that context I propose to make the new Minister of State appointments.

(Cavan-Monaghan): I have suggested to the Taoiseach that the impression is getting around, because of the delay, that these are not important appointments and that they may well be a waste of money. That is not in the interest of the appointments if and when they are made. Will the Taoiseach agree with that?

I recall that when I decided to increase the number of Minister of State appointments from ten to 15 a number of Deputies opposite criticised that decision on the basis that that was wasting money.

I accept the Taoiseach's answer that he is thinking of appointing under these two headings particularly the Minister for the status of women. I ask him to keep in mind that it is very important that this Ministry should exist in view of the fact that he has an all-male Cabinet and that it is incumbent on him to represent 51 per cent of the electors. Will he accept that having this junior Minister will give him a special insight into and knowledge of the quite dreadful problems that exist in this country for women in view of the fact that Fianna Fáil during their term of office have never been good at legal reform in areas relating to women?

I am the person, I remind the Deputy, who appointed the first woman district justice and the first woman High Court judge in this country as well as making various other very important appointments where I pioneered in appointing women to them.

I was the first Taoiseach ever to appoint a woman to the Cabinet in modern times.