Vol. 418 No. 5
60 Mr. Cotter asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs whether the alleged statements made by an envoy in Madrid were made in the course of a private conversation with a Government Minister of State; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
89 Mr. Barry asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will nominate an officer of his Department to receive complaints from public representatives regarding ambassadors and other officials serving abroad, in order to avoid situations similar to the one which recently occurred when two ambassadors were criticised at a political party meeting without having the opportunity to defend themselves.
It is the general practice throughout the Civil Service that comments on the conduct of individual officers, whether by public representatives or otherwise, may be conveyed to the Minister or Secretary of the appropriate Department. Where a complaint is involved, arrangements are made for the matter to be fully investigated including provision of an opportunity for the officer concerned to explain his or her position. I see no reason to depart from general Civil Service practice in the case of the Department of Foreign Affairs.
I can confirm that a complaint about an incident which occurred on the occasion of a dinner hosted by the Ambassador to Spain in his official residence at which a Minister of State was present is currently being considered by the Secretary of the Department.
