Office of the Ombudsman

Question 1

What does the Office Of the Ombudsman do?

Answer 1

It investigates complaints made by members of the public against public bodies in Ireland

Question 2

Give examples of some public bodies in Ireland that the Office of the Ombudsman investigated complaints of?
(5)

Answer 2

Government departments

Local authorities

The Health Service Executive (HSE)

Publicly Funded Third-level education bodies

Private nursing homes

Question 3

What should first be done by the consumer before contacting the Office of the Ombudsman?

Answer 3

An attempt should be made to resolve the issue with the public body before involving the Office of the Ombudsman

Question 4

What does the Office of the Ombudsman have the power to do?

2

Answer 4

It has the power to make a recommendation but its findings are not legally biding

It cannot force the public body to accept or act upon the decision

Question 5

What can the Ombudsman do if the public body fails to act upon the decision of the ombudsman?

Answer 5

They may make a report to the Houses of the Oireachtas

Question 6

Who can the Ombudsman report a public body to if they fail to act upon their decision?

Answer 6

The Houses of the Oireachtas