Under the Haddington Road Agreement, staff officers and executive officers in the Department of Social Protection were to be put together. This was an agreement made in 2014. As and from 1 January of this year, it was to be completed. Unfortunately, I have written to the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, but seemingly for the last two or three weeks he has not been able to sign a letter. Is this going to be done in the Department of Social Protection or not? The Civil Public and Services Union, CPSU, is involved but seems to be dragging its feet on it. It seems to have other interests about union membership rather than in solving this problem for these people.

I am happy to answer that. It is a matter that is still under negotiation between my Department, the relevant unions and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. We are confident that we will have the matter resolved in the near future.