asked the Taoiseach if he will state the Government's policy on ombudsman services as suggested in the Devlin Report.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Ombudsman Policy.
9.
As I stated in reply to Question No. 1 on the 18th May, 1971, the Public Services Organisation Review Group have recommended that a Commissioner for Administrative Justice should be attached to a Department of the Public Service to deal with the installation and operation of an appellate system in the public service. When the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill, 1971, is enacted, examination of this recommendation will be among the matters to be dealt with by the proposed new Department of the Public Service provided for in the Bill.
As stated by the Minister for Finance in reply to the recent debate in Seanad Éireann on the Appropriation Bill, 1971, it is hoped to have the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill, 1971, enacted during the present Parliamentary session.
Can I take it that the Bill will incorporate an ombudsman service?
Not necessarily, but the Department must first be set up in order to accommodate such an ombudsman if he is appointed.
Is there any indication——?
I suggest that we should leave it until the debate on that Bill which will be, as I indicated, during the present session.
There is no indication at the moment as to what the Government's policy on it is?
No, we have not indicated that. Many people seem to think that I am the ombudsman because I get so many appeals from so many sources and organisations. For the sake of self-preservation I should like to see that service set up.