An Irish secretary who claims she was dismissed by the Mexican ambassador because she became pregnant was yesterday offered travelling expenses to investigate whether she could take an unfair dismissal case in Mexico.
The offer was made by the Mexican embassy, which claims that the Employment Appeals Tribunal has no jurisdiction to hear a case being taken by Ms Deirdre Geraghty, who is suing the ambassador, Mr Daniel Dultzin, and the embassy for unfair dismissal.
Ms Geraghty claims she was dismissed over the telephone by Mr Dultzin "after a tirade of abuse".
The tribunal has yet to decide whether it has jurisdiction to hear the case. At yesterday's sitting, counsel for the embassy, Mr Tom Mallon, said that if the tribunal determined that it did not have jurisdiction, Ms Geraghty might be entitled to enter a claim in Mexico.
He said the tribunal had previously expressed a view that in those circumstances there might be an obligation on the embassy in relation to travelling expenses that might be incurred.
His instructions were that his client would be willing to pay Ms Geraghty's return air fare. It would also pay for two days' accommodation at a rate of £100 a day, to allow Ms Geraghty to investigate the possibility of taking an action in Mexico.