"No question of public servants resigning"

CODES of discipline would be implemented before there could be any question of a civil servant being asked to resign, the Minister for Justice said.

Mrs Owen, replying to questions at the end of yesterday's debate, said there was no question of any resignation being sought before the inquiry began. "I cannot say whether any will be sought after the inquiry other than to say that the report clearly says human error took place and, where failures occurred, that people should be confronted and the full rigours of the code of discipline will be applied."

The first step would be for the personnel manager at the Department to confront the people concerned with their alleged faults. They then had 14 days to reply. There was "a great deal of anger and regret" about what happened. There were "strong words" and "robust exchanges". "It is inexcusable that these mistakes could be made."

Procedures had to be followed and the people involved confronted. Many people were suffering a great deal of stress and pressure over what happened.