Public Service Oversight Committee to meet Children’s Ombudsman on Role and Remit

Newly appointed Children’s Ombudsman Dr Niall Muldoon will appear before the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions tomorrow to discuss the role and remit of his Office and its priorities and challenges into the future.

10 March 2015

Dr Muldoon succeeded Emily Logan as Ombudsman in February and assumes responsibility for an Office that sets out to promote and safeguard the rights and welfare of children and young people. The Children’s Ombudsman also investigates complaints about public services made by children and young people, or by adults on their behalf.

The meeting forms part of a series that the Committee is having with the various Ombudsman Offices responsible for different aspects of public oversight.

 Chairman of the Committee Pádraig Mac Lochlainn TD says: “Committee Members look forward to hearing from Dr Muldoon on the role and remit of his Office, as well as particular trends in the caseload. The meeting will also explore the synergies that may exist between the Office and our Committee, and how we might work together to enhance parliamentary oversight in the area. For instance, Dr Muldoon has identified the upholding of rights of children in our direct provision system as a particular priority during his tenure. The Committee is currently preparing a report on the matter, having visited a number of Direct Provision Centres nationwide and engaged with residents so we look forward to the exchange of views with Dr Muldoon tomorrow.”

The meeting takes place tomorrow Wednesday 11 March in Committee Room 3, LH 2000 at 4 pm. Public proceedings can be viewed online here.

Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the move, through the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.

Get involved and access petitions website.

Ends/

For media enquiries contact:

Paul Hand,
Communications Unit,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 4484
M: +353 87 694 9926

Committee Membership

Deputies:
Richard Boyd-Barrett, Independent
Noel Harrington, Fine Gael
Michael Healy-Rae, Independent
Seamus Kirk, Fianna Fáil
Michael P. Kitt, Fianna Fáil
Pádraig MacLochlainn (Chairman), Sinn Féin
Helen McEntee, Fine Gael
Michelle Mulherin, Fine Gael
Derek Nolan (Vice-Chair), Labour
Patrick O'Donovan, Fine Gael
Aengus Ó Snodaigh, Sinn Féin
Sean Kenny, Labour
John Halligan, Independent
Jack Wall, Labour

Senators:
Trevor Ó Clochartaigh, Sinn Féin
Jimmy Harte, Labour
Tony Mulcahy, Fine Gael
Susan O’Keeffe, Labour
Ned O'Sullivan, Fianna Fáil