Mr. Michael Donnellan:

It is an issue. As can be seen following the recommendation of the Comptroller and Auditor General, we have undertaken a review of the annualised hours, in particular on the methodology and allocation of additional hours and also alternative methodologies for the current annualised hours, AH, system. It is important to say that this is an agreed system. It has been agreed by all sides, so if we change it we have to change it by agreement with everybody. The Deputy is right that it could be utilised more efficiently and at the current time, the AH is attracted to the officer rather than the need.