asked the Minister for Justice if he believes there is a need to update the law on rape; if he has any plans to do so particularly with respect to amending the legal definition of rape to include rape within marriage and to include specific sexual acts which are presently classified as sexual assaults and if he will make a statement on the matter.

For reasons which have been explained in this House on a number of occasions already, I could not undertake to indicate, by way of reply to parliamentary questions, what specific legislative proposals I might have in a particular area. Any proposals I may have in relation to the subject matter of this question will be announced in the ordinary way in due course.