‘Lost at Sea’ public inquiry stalled as both sides consider stand-off

A PUBLIC inquiry into the controversial Lost at Sea Scheme has been stalled to allow the warring factions in the Department of Agriculture and the Ombudsman’s office time to reconsider the stand-off.

The Oireachtas committee on agriculture decided it would write to both parties before finalising its conclusions after a series of heated meetings. This correspondence was agreed on this week.

Up to now the department has flatly rejected the recommendation of Ombudsman Emily O’Reilly that it should compensate a Donegal family for the flawed operation of the Lost at Sea scheme.