State tight-lipped on ombudsman plan

DIFFICULTIES with getting clear answers from State bodies was one of the reasons most commonly cited for needing an ombudsman but nobody could get an answer out of the Government on its plans for the new watchdog.

And when Finance and Public Service Minister Richie Ryan let the cat out of the bag during an after-dinner speech, his miffed Taoiseach, Liam Cosgrave, got his claws out.

A briefing document prepared for Cosgrave in early 1975 points out that the Public Service Organisation Review Group had recommended an ombudsman be established in 1969 and that in 1971, the previous Taoiseach (Jack Lynch) had said the proposed new Department of Public Service would deal with it.