Vol. 457 No. 7
293 Mr. Cowen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry whether his Department advised a personal secretary to the Minister of State at his Department that he should continue to draw invalidity pension until his formal contract with the Department was finalised; whether any official or officials of his Department discussed the aforementioned matter with the Minister of State at his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16020/95]
No official of my Department advised the person concerned that he should continue to draw invalitiy pension until his formal contract was finalised. When an allegation was made that such advice had been given my Department emphatically denied it and informed the Minister of State to this effect. No official discussed the question with the Minister of State prior to 12 May 1995, when he was informed that the Department of Social Welfare had drawn the attention of my Department to the matter.
