Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

As Deputy Deenihan will be aware, the vast majority of complaints to the ombudsman relate to selecting people for career courses, for overseas service and for promotion. I do not know whether the latter category contained accusations that people were not promoted simply because of their gender. I do not have the details about the complaints. I stated that the ombudsman is statutorily independent and I do not want to come in here and speak in detail about the cases with which she has dealt. I should imagine the ombudsman's report may provide further information in that regard.

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