4 Samh 2014, 16:04
The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions will meet tomorrow with the Defence Ombudsman Tony McCourt. The meeting forms part of a series that the Committee is having with the various Ombudsman Offices responsible for different aspects of public oversight.
4 November 2014
Chairman of the Committee Pádraig Mac Lochlainn TD says: “Established in law in 2004, the Defence Ombudsman’s Office provides serving and former members of the permanent and reserve Defence Forces with a channel to appeal complaints they believe have not been adequately addressed internally. Committee Members look forward to hearing from Mr McCourt 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. It is envisaged that the Committee will publish a Report on this series of hearings with oversight bodies in the coming months. ”
Separately, the Committee will consider a number of public petitions received. Two petitions relate to the perceived unfairness at how drivers with disabilities are awarded tax concessions. The Committee will also consider petitions related to Caranua, the new independent Irish state body for survivors of institutional abuse, and the supplementary primary education tax payable by Australian (and other) nationals on working visas in Ireland.
The meeting takes place tomorrow Wednesday 5 November in Committee Room 3, LH 2000 at 4 pm, commencing in private session. Public proceedings, which are anticipated to start at 4:30 pm, 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.
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 Fein
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