Can the Minister clarify the point regarding the lone scientist who is at Abbotstown?

We are satisfied that we have adequate staff to meet the situation.

Question No. 7.

Let me clarify with the Minister the question which was asked twice by Deputy Doyle and me. Can the Minister say when this new pathologist will take up his duties?

What are his qualifications?

I did not say a new pathologist was taking up duty. I said we were making arrangements with the Department of Agriculture and Food to provide a service for us in the event of this pathologist leaving.

Are we to take it that as and from tomorrow there will be no pathologist?

The Deputy can make any deduction he likes. We are moving on to Question No. 7.

We have given over 11 minutes to the question.

I beg the Chair's indulgence as it is one of my priority questions.

If the Deputy elects to give too much time to questions which are not before us she will have to bear with the difficulties of trying to fit in. We will take a final short question from her.

We are dealing with four very important questions on a most topical issue and we should be given sufficient time to debate them.

Every question is important.