asked the Minister for Justice if he will outline his legislative programme in the area of marital breakdown in the light of the outcome of the referendum on the tenth amendment of the Constitution.

The Government intend to bring forward legislation to deal with the matters, other than divorce, that are mentioned in the recent Statement on Government's Intentions with regard to Marriage, Separation and Divorce.

Could the Minister indicate over what period he proposes to introduce legislation in view of the urgency of many of the issues raised in the document? In view of the defeat of the proposed change in the Constitution, what legislative proposals has he to deal with the regularising of second relationships which have developed in the absence of divorce?

As the Taoiseach has said in the House, the Government's intention is to bring forward this legislation during the autumn session. With regard to the second part of the Deputy's question, I am not 100 per cent clear as to what he means. I cannot conceive — if I may use the word without giving offence — of any legislation which could in the present circumstances "regularise" a number of second unions that the Deputy appears to have in mind, if they follow on a valid marriage.