Official Apology

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 June 2016

Tuesday, 14 June 2016

Questions (358)

Clare Daly

Question:

358. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade why a Minister retracted an apology on 27 November 2007 which had been given by a Minister on 9 August 2004 (details supplied); if the apology originally given should stand, given that the Ombudsman has retracted a citing against a person; and if he will correct the record of Dáil Éireann on this matter through the Joint Committee on Public Oversight and Petitions or through the Ombudsman. [15988/16]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

The Deputy’s Question refers to an individual who sought compensation for alleged mishandling of a recruitment process by the Agency for Personal Service Overseas (APSO) in 1997. APSO was a limited company which was wound up in 2004.

This matter has been the subject of previous correspondence and representations with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. My Department has been in communication with the individual most recently in July 2014.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has dealt with this matter as sympathetically as possible, based on the fullest consideration of the facts, since the functions of APSO were taken over by the Department in 2004. Liability has been denied by the Department. I am not in a position to enter into any further detail on the matter.