Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Mr. Ó Foghlú contradicted himself there, if he does not mind me saying so. He stated the Department has an independent statutory appeals board in place and the Department did not allow the Ombudsman into the situation because that would be second guessing an independent appeals board. I am confirming to him the Ombudsman has stated she will have the right to examine these cases for the next academic year and his argument of not having the Ombudsman involved because there is an independent appeals board does not hold up this year. It held up for the previous academic year. Why was it agreed? Why did the Department decide to let the Ombudsman in after year 1, and not in year 1?