It has been alleged in the press that there is a turf war between Ministers and representatives of a number of State agencies which currently run research and development programmes. Last week's The Irish Times, for example, reported that the report on the €2.5 billion science fund might not survive an interdepartmental turf war. It is worrying if the Government cannot agree how an important part of the national development plan is to be implemented. It is important that the Tánaiste and her Department decide on the recommendations as soon as possible.