Minister of State Ivor Callely refused yesterday to comment on the resignation of his private secretary, who quit her post earlier this month after he asked her to attend a function she saw as political.
Úna McDermott will now work elsewhere in the Department of Transport. Mr Callely said the matter "has been referred to the personnel division of the Department of Transport" and that he would not comment further on it.
Ms McDermott resigned after being asked by Mr Callely to attend a Dublin Chamber of Commerce function with him on November 10th.
The chamber had invited representatives of political parties "to discuss the major issues facing Dublin out to 2020".
Mr Callely therefore attended in his capacity as a representative of Fianna Fáil, rather than as a Minister of State.
Fine Gael was represented by Olivia Mitchell TD, the Green Party by leader Trevor Sargent, Labour by Councillor Dermot Lacey and the Progressive Democrats by Senator Tom Morrissey.
Ms McDermott resigned on November 11th, the day after this event took place.
It is believed the Department of Transport accepted that she was not obliged to attend this function, as Mr Callely was acting in a party political capacity.
The 2004 Civil Service Code of Standards and Behaviour states that all civil servants above clerical officer level are totally debarred from engaging in any form of political activity.