Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 146: To ask the Minister for Finance when he proposes to issue Government guidelines in relation to a new benchmarking board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33114/05]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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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 and report in the second half of 2007.

Talks between the public service employers and unions on the membership of the benchmarking body and its terms of reference have taken place. These talks are well advanced and are continuing. The body is likely to be established shortly.

The role of the body is defined in Sustaining Progress as being to carry out an evaluation of public service jobs and pay by reference to comparable jobs across the economy. The terms of reference of the body will elaborate on the factors to be taken into account by it. These terms of reference will be publicly available when the body is set up. The question of the Minister issuing guidelines does not therefore arise.