2010 Media Releases

The Ombudsman, Emily O'Reilly, today (13th December 2010) published a report into the care and treatment of a patient and his family at the Mid-Western Regional Hospital, Dooradoyle, Limerick. The daughter of the 61 year-old man complained to the Ombudsman about the care her father had received in the Mid-Western Regional Hospital. While in hospital for treatment for a stroke, her father suffered a fall from his hospital bed and suffered a broken tooth, an 8cm laceration to the back of his head and cuts to his tongue. He died 52 hours later.

The Ombudsman Report, Who Cares? An Investigation into the Right to Nursing Home Care in Ireland, was the subject of a Dáil Motion yesterday evening (16 November 2010); debate on this motion is to be completed this evening (17 November 2010). Given that her report is a substantial one, and for the benefit of the members of the Dáil and Seanad, the Ombudsman is now setting out the responses to these criticisms already contained in the report itself and in the related published correspondence.

The Ombudsman, Emily O'Reilly, has today laid before the Dáil and Seanad an investigation report looking at the actions of the Department of Health and Children and of the HSE. The report is based on 1,200 complaints received over 25 years regarding the right to long-term nursing home care for older people.

Ombudsman expresses disappointment at outcome of Committee's deliberations. Government a judge in its own case to the detriment of the people.

Ombudsman issues media release related to Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Lost at Sea Special Report

Three Investigation Reports

The Ombudsman, Emily O'Reilly, today (Friday, 17th September 2010) welcomed the Health Service Executive (HSE) initiative to promote its customer service programme "Your Service Your Say" – 20th - 24th September 2010.

The Ombudsman, Emily O´Reilly, today published an Investigation Report into a complaint from a married couple concerning their treatment by Meath County Council over a large-scale, unauthorised shed development beside their home.

Ombudsman Reports to Oireachtas on bad experience with Health Service Executive

This is Emily O’Reilly's seventh Annual Report as Ombudsman and the twenty-sixth since the Office of the Ombudsman, the first one in the State, was established back in 1984. Commenting on the 2009 complaint cases spotlighted, Emily O’Reilly stated: “The Ombudsman complaints service is for everyone who needs it, to use free of charge. Since 1984 we have helped nearly 73,000 people with valid complaints - It is a proud record of achievement."

The Ombudsman and Information Commissioner, Emily O´Reilly, today (9 March, 2010) gave an address at the Institute of Public Administration/Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accounting Conference on "Good governance: Values and Culture or Rules and Regulations", in Dublin.

The Ombudsman, Emily O'Reilly, today welcomed the decision to hold a Dáil debate on the Special Report of her investigation into a complaint about the Lost at Sea Scheme. The debate will commence at 1.30pm tomorrow - Thursday, 4 February 2010.