Vol. 505 No. 3
234 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will make a statement on the circumstances of the transfer of an official in his Department (details supplied) arising from a reported dispute on the sanctioning of certain expenses claimed by staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13688/99]
In December 1998, my Department became aware that the majority of the staff in a certain office in the Department were no longer content to work with their supervisor i.e., the official referred to by the Deputy.
The Christmas leave period arose before anything could be done about the situation but on 12 January 1999, the personnel officer transferred the official concerned. The official proceeded to take High Court proceedings the following day to prevent her transfer but indicated to the Department, through her legal advisers on 18 January, that she was prepared to settle the action and accept her transfer. The case was subsequently settled.
In the course of a High Court affidavit the plaintiff implied that her transfer may have been connected with the fact that she queried and refused to approve certain travelling and subsistence claims. I am satisfied that the question of such claims did not arise in the consideration of the transfer to other duties of the person concerned.
I should inform the House that the official concerned has formally withdrawn all her allegations and has accepted that they were not and are not true. To the best of my knowledge and advice no fraud, irregularity or overpayment occurred in relation to the expenses concerned in this case.
