I propose to take Questions Nos. 426 and 441 together.
Eight retired former public servants were recruited on short term contracts in the Department of Social Protection from June 2010. These officers were employed on a part time basis as Appeals Officers, and their contracts terminated at the end of December 2011. One of the Department's Medical Assessors was retained on a temporary contract beyond retirement which ended on the 20 January 2012. The Department's Chief Medical Advisor was also retained beyond his retirement date of 29 February 2012 and is currently employed on a temporary contract basis. In addition, during 2010 a retired officer was employed to chair an interdepartmental group to consider the legislation required to provide for legal recognition by the State of the acquired gender of transsexual persons. The decision to re-employ or retain this small number of staff was taken due to their specific skills and experience, the difficulty and long lead-in time for replacing such skills, and the critical importance of ensuring continuity and a high level of service to customers of the Department.