Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 500 of 13 November 2012, if he will detail the nature of the potential concerns raised about these appointments; if they have been investigated and if so were they found justified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55887/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will appreciate that the management of the staff of my Department is a matter for the Secretary General of the Department. I would ask the Deputy, given that this question seems to be one in a series of similar questions over recent months, that if he is aware of any particular issues concerning a particular individual he asks that individual to highlight those concerns directly to my Department's Personnel Officer. I do not believe that the use of Parliamentary Questions is the most appropriate manner to address any potentially valid concerns a staff member might have, particularly if the HR Department has not had an opportunity to address legitimate concerns around the selection of persons for specific posts.

I understand that an individual referred to in reply to PQ No. 500 of 13 November 2012, and who has since left the Department, had sought access to the records pertaining to his application for a posting to the Permanent Representation to the EU in Brussels for the period leading up to and during the forthcoming EU Presidency. In pursuing such access the individual concerned stated that his request was motivated by seeking to ensure the processes involved had been applied in a fair or transparent fashion. No formal complaint has been received from the officer concerned, on foot of that query.