asked the Minister for Finance, in view of the reply to Parlimentary Questions Nos. 10, 37 and 121 of 31 January 1989, whether the discussions on the amalgamation of the staff officer and the executive officer grades have reached a conclusion; and if so, the outcome of those discussions.

Although I am in favour of rationalising grading structures in the Civil Service in the interests of greater efficiency, the financial cost of the amalgamation of the staff officer and executive officer grades in the civil service, are such that I am not prepared to proceed with it at this point in time.