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Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill in Seanad - Statement from Ombudsman, Emily O'Reilly

I am very pleased to see that the Seanad will today (26 September 2012) be considering the Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008. The Government committed itself in its Programme for Government to extend the Ombudsman Act so as to "ensure that all statutory bodies, and all bodies significantly funded from the public purse, are covered". The Bill now before the Seanad dates from 2008 and had been passed by the Dáil (but not by the Seanad) prior to the General Election in March 2011. The present Government has restored this Bill in its legislative programme and it is now before the Seanad with a significant number of amendments proposed by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. I understand that Committee Stage of the Bill will be taken on 4 October 2012 and that the remaining stages, as well as bringing the Bill back to the Dáil, will be completed shortly thereafter. I am hopeful that a significantly extended Ombudsman Act will be in place by the end of this year.

My Office has been cooperating with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on the technical aspects of the Bill and one of my staff has been available on loan to the Department in recent weeks. This member of staff has been assisting with technical issues raised in the drafting of the amendments and has provided a communication channel between the Department and my Office.

Emily O'Reilly
Ombudsman

26 September 2012