Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

While I acknowledge that the committee cannot get involved in individual cases, it would be unfortunate if the Chairman's proposal were to be the decision of the committee. A problem would arise if Departments were to condone or accept as reasonable a practice whereby arbitrary conditions could be applied to out of court settlements or disputes that would infringe the basic rights of individuals. I had not heard of the individual or case previously. Having read the correspondence and inquired into the matter, the person was obviously in contact with the previous committee. The questions raised are legitimate.

If there is another committee that is better placed to deal with it, so be it, but I do not think there is a big problem in asking the Department to respond to the queries that were raised, without prejudice to anything, because if there were such a practice, I do not think it would be very fair.