Mr. Barry O'Brien:

The first thing we are going to do is deal with all of the agencies involved. In the first instance, they will be asked to set out their position. They will be asked to accept in full the new annual assurance statement which includes pay and, in particular, makes a dedicated reference to full compliance with public pay policy. Then, if agencies are non-compliant, it will be a matter for HSE management to determine how to deal with this. The Minister made it clear this morning that no one was in a position to tolerate people who believed they could operate outside stated Government pay policy.