THE Owen affair was "a monumental cock-up" which should speed the planned reform of ministerial and civil servants' responsibility, the Minister for Finance said yesterday.
Speaking at a luncheon organised by the Association of European Journalists in Dublin, Mr Quinn said he did not know what had happened, and had been away when the story broke. The Minister for Justice, Mrs Owen, had asked him to assist in ensuring that there was a thorough investigation, he added.
He told the gathering that he had not yet had a chance to discuss the affair with her: "I'm quite satisfied with what she has said at the present time. Clearly, at a minimum, an administrative cock-up has occurred...
"Clearly I'm speaking in support of a Cabinet colleague for whom I have a lot of respect bed cause I think she has done a very good job. There has been a monumental cock-up. Let's find out what happened, how did it happen, who was involved in it happening, and let's learn some lessons from it," he added.
Mr Quinn said the Government was committed to changing the 1924 Ministers and Secretaries Act, to stop the current practice through which ministers are held responsible for everything that happens in their Departments. The heads of the reformed Bill have been agreed, Mr Quinn added, and were expected to be made public early in the new year.
"Let me put it in context. In 1922 there were 54 people employed by the Department of Finance. Yes, you could be responsible for every letter issued in those circumstances. Today there are about 500 in the Department," the Minister said.