John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)

The Ombudsman made a request on behalf of a specific applicant to the Department. We did not ask the Ombudsman to investigate it.

When the Ombudsman, who is the most independent person in the country, is investigating a complaint, it would not be for me to carry out an internal investigation at the same time. What I am saying to Deputy Perry is that the Ombudsman's investigation is ongoing, we should wait until her final report is available to the Department and, as I stated at the outset, I will give serious consideration to Ombudsman's report when it becomes available to me.

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