The House will resume on Question No. 6. Questions Nos. 6 to 8, inclusive, are being taken together.

On the day the Taoiseach nominated the Minister of State, Deputy Calleary, he stated he would have certain responsibilities with regard to the public service. He also announced the Government's intention to appoint a public service board which would include people from outside the public service with the appropriate experience and skills. Perhaps I missed it at some stage, but I do not recall seeing that the board had been appointed. Can the Taoiseach tell the House if the public service board has been appointed and, if so, who are its members?

That appointment is imminent.

It has been imminent for a while. When we asked the Taoiseach about this on 5 May last, he said the board had not been appointed and he was anxious to get through to it. At that stage he was waiting for the Croke Park agreement to be ratified. That has happened. Is it not an indication of the lack of urgency and seriousness about public service reform that a board that the Taoiseach promised——-

Deputy, you are anticipating a question later on. You are moving forward with undue haste.

I am dealing with the appointment. This announcement was made, together with the announcement of the appointment of the Minister of Sate, Deputy Calleary, who was given responsibility for the public service, which I was very glad to see, and it was to be backed up by having a public service board. At some stage the Taoiseach said he intended that the board would be made up of a majority of people from outside the public service. Can he tell the House when the board will be appointed?

I have recently signed off on the names.

Would the Taoiseach like to share the information?

I do not have the information. Until it is announced it would not be appropriate.

How many members will it have?

I do not have the details in front of me but I have spoken to the Minister of State, Deputy Calleary, about it and I have signed off on it.