25 Jan 2012, 10:48
The new Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions will seek to focus its work on investigating and identifying improvements in the delivery of public services to citizens.
As part of its new remit, the Committee will receive and process public petitions submitted to the Houses of the Oireachtas, and will also regularly engage with the Ombudsman.
The report, launched today Wednesday 25 January, was prepared by the current Committee on Investigations, Oversight and Petitions on its future role.
It is accessible here:
Cathaoirleach Peadar Tóibín TD says: ““Providing oversight to the delivery of public services, the Committee will address issues of serious concern. We will be a robust champion on behalf of our citizens.
“We are seeking to have powers of compellability to allow the Committee to carry out its investigations properly. This will result in a very important, powerful and vigorous Committee, equipped with powers similar to the Public Accounts Committee.
“Citizens will be able to petition the Committee to hold investigations into issues of interest to them and engage with the Oireachtas in a formal way. The Committee will also connect with the valuable work of the Ombudsman and advise Houses to develop legislation on the back of such discussions.”
View video clip of Cathaoirleach Peadar Tóibín TD introducing the report in Irish and English.
For more information contact:
Paul Hand,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 4484
M: +353 87 694 9926
F: +3531 618 4551
Committee Membership
Dara Calleary, TD
Joan Collins, TD
Michael Conaghan, TD
Alan Farrell, TD
Charles Flanagan, TD
Michael Healy-Rae, TD
Peter Matthews, TD
Michael McCarthy, TD
Charlie McConalogue, TD
Michelle Mulherin, TD
Derek Nolan, TD
Aengus Ó Snodaigh, TD
John Paul Phelan, TD
Peadar Tóibín, TD
Mick Wallace, TD