Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 67: To ask the Minister for Finance if he has decided on the membership of the public service benchmarking body for its next phase of work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2570/05]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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In the first public service pay agreement under Sustaining Progress, the parties agreed that the benchmarking process was the appropriate way to determine public service pay rates. They committed themselves to engage in consultation in relation to the terms of reference, modus operandi, establishment and timescale of a further benchmarking exercise.

In the pay agreement reached in June 2004 under the mid-term review of Sustaining Progress, the parties agreed that the benchmarking body will commence the next benchmarking review in the second half of 2005 to report in the second half of 2007.

Under the agreement, the parties will review the operation of the first benchmarking exercise and consider ways in which, based on experience gained in the last exercise, the process can be improved and streamlined.

The membership of the benchmarking body and its terms of reference will be agreed between the two parties not later than July 2005. Membership of the benchmarking body has not yet been decided and will be the subject of consideration over the coming months.