asked the Minister for Labour if he will consider amending the Unfair Dismissals Act, 1977, to ensure that a person's private life cannot be used as grounds for dismissal from employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

My Department are completing a review of the issues involved here and when that review is submitted to me shortly I will see if action of the nature envisaged by the Deputy is possible.

I am sure the Minister is aware that the origin of my question relates to the Eileen Flynn case but I am concerned about the position in employment generally. Will the Minister agree that, if religious criteria are adequate grounds for dismissal in a particular case, other criteria, possibly political, could be used in other areas such as nursing and so on? Has the Minister examined that aspect of the matter?

I have received submissions from a number of different groups and the preliminary work done in my Department indicates that the issue in terms of legislating for this is quite complex. We are looking at the final recommendations that have been proposed and I hope to be in a position to reply to the Deputy at that stage.

What does the Minister mean by "shortly"?

Early next year.