asked the Minister for Finance the reason for the continuing delay in the amalgamation of the staff officer and executive officer grades; and when it is now envisaged that this amalgamation will finally occur.

As I previously indicated when announcing my decision to amalgamate the grades in question, matters of detail relating to the amalgamation were to be discussed with staff interests and those discussions are still in progress. In the wider context of good industrial relations, no termination date for those discussions was announced but I would expect them to conclude shortly.