asked the Minister for the Public Service if he will make a statement on the 1985 annual report of the Ombudsman.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Ombudsman's Annual Report.
29.
The Ombudsman's report for 1985 was published on 25 March 1986. In his report the Ombudsman raised a number of issues which he considered merited special attention by the Ministers concerned. I have been in touch with all the relevant Ministers seeking their views about the issues within their area of responsibility and asking them to indicate the action which they propose to take in those areas.
The House will have an opportunity to debate these issues more fully later when the debate on the report takes place. I would hope that, by then, Ministers will have completed their examination of the various issues raised.
Most of the issues raised in the 1985 report are the same as those raised in the 1984 report. The reply which is being given now is the same as that given by the then Minister, Deputy Boland, last year. We had a debate on this subject on the first day the Minister of State took up office. No action has taken place since. No proposals or suggestions have been put forward. Does the Minister agree that there is little point in having an Ombudsman if his reports are ignored?
The Ombudsman has established a niche for himself in public administration. Many problems raised with him have been successfully resolved. In response to points made by him some changes have taken place but I accept that there are quite a number of points which have not resulted so far in changes being made. Merely because the Ombudsman makes the point that he is of the opinion that change should be made does not automatically mean that it becomes Government policy to do so. I assure the House that every point raised by the Ombudsman in a general sense has been seriously considered by the Ministers concerned. I shall be reporting to the House in detail in relation to the various points raised in the 1985 report.
Will the Minister for the Public Service ensure that when the social welfare report is being reviewed during the summer the sections in relation to 1953 social welfare contributors will be examined?