Vol. 466 No. 4
169 Mr. M. McDowell asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to a letter dated 14 September 1992 from a person (details supplied) in Dublin 8 to the Secretary of her Department; whether there is a record in her Department of the phonecalls described in this correspondence; when the Department of Finance was informed in respect of this matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11439/96]
170 Mr. M. McDowell asked the Minister for Education the representation or inquiries, if any, that were made between November 1992 and August 1993 on behalf of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 8; whether representations were made by the current Minister for Finance; if so, the response given; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11440/96]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 169 and 170 together.
The letter in question was sent to the secretary of my Department prior to my appointment as Minister for Education. However, I have since been made generally aware of the subject matter of this and other related correspondence.
I understand that the phone calls referred to in the letter were made to the person referred to by the Deputy. An examination of the files relating to the period has failed to show any record of the phonecalls in question other than the reference in the letter. However, the subject matter of the phonecalls and subsequent developments in relation to these matters are recorded in my Department.
I understand a copy of the letter to which the Deputy refers was also sent to the secretary of the Department of Finance at that time. In February 1993 I received a letter from the person in question enclosing copies of correspondence which she had with the then Minister for Finance and the then Minister for Enterprise and Employment. No representations or inquiries in relation to these matters have been received in my Department from the current Minister for Finance. However, as the matters in question were the subject of consideration by the Committee of Public Accounts, the Department of Finance would have been briefed on developments taking place in relation to these matters.
