I refer the Deputy to my reply of 19 February 2002 concerning the progress of the public service benchmarking body. The body was established in July 2000 and was asked to report by 30 June 2002. It was agreed by the parties that there would be four phases: phase 1 – written submission by the parties; phase 2 – research by the body itself; phase 3 – oral hearings and any further written submissions based on the research; and phase 4 – finalisation of the report by the body.
Written submissions were made by the parties to the body and it has carried out its research of the public service grades being examined and in the private sector. Oral hearings for each group where both sides had the opportunity to put arguments in support of their case were completed in December 2001.
The body is in the final stage and is deliberating on the issues and drafting its report with a view to finalising it by the end of June 2002. There will be one report at the end of the process. This was agreed by both the unions and the employers and is contained in the body's terms of reference.
Regarding resignations from the body, the Deputy is undoubtedly aware that one member, Mr. Jim O'Leary, tendered his resignation to the chairman of body on 10 April 2002. He was finding it difficult to commit the required amount of time to the work of the body with consequent difficulties for making a meaningful input to its decisions. It is not intended to replace Mr. O'Leary because the body is due to report at the end of June, and in the time available a new appointee would find it difficult to assimilate the extensive data and material generated to date by the body while at the same time contributing effectively to the final stages of the body's work.