I propose to take Questions Nos. 117 to 121, inclusive, and 123 and 124 together.
The position has been indicated in the reply to Parliamentary Question No. 94 on 11 March 2004. The number of supervisory agricultural officers in the potato group who were upgraded under the 1/97 agreement was eight. The headquarters of these officers were Donegal with five officers, Galway, Carlow and Meath, all with one officer. The number of supervisory agricultural officers in seed production group who were upgraded under the agreement was five. The headquarters of these officers were Meath, Wexford, Cork, Waterford and Dublin, all with one officer. The number of upgraded officers in both groups who subsequently transferred to other duties is three. All the upgraded officers in both groups were eligible to transfer to other duties. The number of officers in the potato group who had less than two years service at supervisory agricultural office level was three. There were no retirements at supervisory agricultural officer level in the potato group during 1 September 1996 and 1 May 1998. The agreement provided for a monitoring group comprising union and management representatives to oversee its implementation.