The Fianna Fáil Party will support the request by the Independent group of Deputies for additional time to be provided on the banking inquiry, which will be a most important debate.

The Taoiseach, in alluding to his new appointments to the Departments of Justice and Equality and Children and Youth Affairs, failed to mention the Department of Defence. Will he indicate what he proposes to do in respect of the appointment of a Minister at the Department? I understand he has assumed responsibility for defence. Staff in the Department would like it to be treated seriously and responsibility for it to be assigned to a Minister as soon as possible.

On the request made by Deputy Timmins, with the consent of the Ceann Comhairle, we will be able to grant the ten minutes' speaking time the Deputy seeks.

I have assigned responsibility for the Department of Defence to my Department for the moment to show how seriously I take the issue. I will reassign responsibility in some little time and in the meantime, the Chief Whip and Minister of State at my Department, Deputy Paul Kehoe, will deal with matters of protocol. I intend to have a meeting with the Secretary General of the Department very shortly. I assure Deputy Ó Fearghaíl that the Department, all of those who work in it and the officers who serve in Óglaigh na hÉireann will be treated with the utmost seriousness.