asked the Minister for the Public Service if he is aware of the criticisms made recently by leading officials of the public service unions concerning the operation of the office of Ombudsman; if he believes these criticisms are valid; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Office of Ombudsman.
19.
The only union to have made criticisms to my Department in this matter is the Civil Service Executive Union.
I am satisfied that the Ombudsman has at all times acted in accordance with the powers conferred on him by the Oireachtas. He is also statutorily empowered to determine his own procedures for conducting investigations. However, it is clearly important for the effective operation of the Ombudsman's office that every attempt is made to devise procedures that work well and are acceptable both to the Ombudsman and Departments. Any practical difficulties which may arise are normally, therefore, settled in a pragmatic manner between the Ombudsman and the Department concerned.
Nevertheless, my Department did invite all Government Departments and offices, and the Ombudsman's office itself, to comment on the points raised in the CSEU memorandum. This involved detailed examination and inquiry in many sections and the final responses have only just been received. When consideration of these replies have been completed — in the very near future — my Department will be in touch with the parties involved.