asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state (a) whether any progress has been made by the Conciliation Board since his reply of 12th March last regarding a settlement of the dispute between the Veterinary Officers and his Department; (b) whether he has had regard to the fact that the Six Counties have a staff of 124 permanent veterinary inspectors and that the maximum salary of each of these is over £400 per annum higher than the maximum offered for a similar post here; (c) how many permanent veterinary officers have left the Department's staff since January 1st, 1958, and for what reasons; and (d) how many permanent veterinary inspectors are now on the staff of his Department.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Veterinary Officers in Department of Agriculture.
I regret to say that it has not been possible to make any progress at conciliation level in regard to the claim made by the veterinary officers of my Department for revised scales of salaries, as certain difficulties which have arisen have not yet been resolved.