asked the Taoiseach if he will seek to integrate all matters dealing with the sea in a single Ministry for Seas and Fisheries with a view to coordinating the development of marine-related industry and research as a matter of urgency.

I will keep the Deputy's suggestion carefully in mind in any reorganisation of departmental functions.

I am asking the Taoiseach if he is aware that all aspects of marine development and research in marine affairs have been held up pending the reorganisation he has in mind. Would he tell the House whether preparatory arrangements for the related Departments who have responsibility for aspects of the sea are being made at the moment?

I did not quite get the Deputy's supplementary.

The point I was making is that at the moment matters of the sea and fisheries are being handled by eight different Departments. For example, a programme for marine development will involve consultation with no less than eight agencies of State. Are discussions going on in these Departments to hand over whatever functions they may have to a new Department which would have responsibility for all matters to deal with seas and fisheries?

I would not accept that there is any delay because the unsatisfactory situation which the Deputy has outlined has prevailed since the foundation of this State. I am concerned to improve matters and I think my ideas are very much on the same lines as the Deputy's.

In relation to this matter and other appointments which the Taoiseach has in mind, will he tell the House when he expects to be able to inform us that his deliberations are completed? When will he make these announcements?

The House will be informed in due course.

What does the Taoiseach mean by "in due course"? Does he mean a week, a month or a year?

We cannot stay on this matter. I am sorry if the answer is not satisfactory to the Deputy but we must move to the next question.

I presume the Chair will permit me to ask a second supplementary, even if it is only in an attempt to prise out some information from the Taoiseach. Why does he mean by "in due course"? Can the Taoiseach give an indication to the House when these appointments will be announced?

I might point out to the Deputy that one vacancy among the Ministers of State was never filled during the period of the previous Government. That is for the record.

Is that what the Taoiseach intends?