A senior employee at the Department of Tourism's New York office has been suspended with pay pending the outcome of an internal investigation into suspected improper conduct.

Details on the situation remained sketchy last night, with a department spokesperson saying: "As this is a personnel issue still under investigation, it would be improper for the Department of Tourism to comment on the nature of the investigation at this time."

In a matter said by the spokesman to be separate from that probe, the department is undergoing what was described as "a routine risk assessment" by the internal audit department.

"The auditor responsible has reported no findings as yet. Therefore any comment or reporting on the outcome of the investigation would be extremely premature and grossly speculative," said the spokesman last night.

"The auditor, who has spoken with senior officials at the Department of Tourism as recently as today, has not reported any findings of missing funds.

"The Minister responsible for tourism looks forward to seeing the audit report when it is complete. The role of caring for the taxpayers' purse is taken very seriously."