Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Question 52: To ask the Minister for Finance the terms of reference of the review body on higher remuneration in the public sector; when the review body is likely to complete its work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13345/05]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The review body on higher remuneration in the public sector is a standing body which makes recommendations to the Government on the remuneration of political office holders, the Judiciary, civil servants from assistant secretary level up, top local authority and health service posts, the commissioner ranks in the Garda Siochána, the general ranks in the Defence Forces, the chief executive officers of non-commercial State sponsored bodies and other top public service posts.

The standing terms of reference are to act as a standing body whose primary function will be to advise the Government from time to time on the general levels of remuneration appropriate to: members of the Government, Ministers of State, the Attorney General and the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann; the Judiciary; civil servants outside the scope of the Civil Service conciliation and arbitration scheme; higher management grades in the local authorities and Health Service Executive not covered by the public service benchmarking body process; the ranks of commissioner, deputy commissioner, assistant commissioner and surgeon in the Garda Síochána; chief of staff, lieutenant-general, major-general and brigadier-general or commodore in the Defence Forces; the Comptroller and Auditor General; the chief executives of non-commercial State sponsored bodies; hospital consultants; and such other posts as it may be asked to examine from time to time.

The review body has been asked to complete a general review and report in 2007. Since by the time the review body completes that report seven years will have elapsed since the last general review was completed rather than the four that was envisaged in the review body's previous terms of reference, the Government decided that the body should be asked to examine whether an interim increase was warranted. The body is to report on this aspect of its work by end of June this year.

In addition, later this year the review body will examine some new senior management posts in the Health Service Executive. Late last year an agreement was reached with the union representing senior personnel in the health boards, programme managers and directors of service who are being amalgamated into the newly established Health Service Executive. It was agreed that some review of the jobs was needed and that it should be carried out by the end of this year to establish appropriate remuneration levels.