No date set for Children’s Ombudsman
The ombudsman a post promised in the Programme for Government will investigate complaints made by children, young people, their parents or representatives against public bodies, schools and voluntary hospitals.
He or she will publish an annual report and promote the rights and welfare of children within a variety of Government departments.
At the weekend 80 children between the ages of nine and 17 met Minister for Children Brian Lenihan to discuss the job specifications for the proposed new ombudsman post.
Youngsters said they hoped the ombudsman would push to have bus fares reduced and cheaper entrance fees to swimming pools and leisure centres as well as intervene in school bullying.
Some 16 children and young people were selected at the weekend meeting in Dublin to take part in the recruitment process.
They will have a role in designing the job advertisements and interviewing a shortlist of candidates. A panel of interviewees is expected to be approved by the Government in December. In the meantime, they will be trained to assist them carry out their functions.
After setting up the recruitment panel, the Department of Health & Children hopes to be in a position to advertise for the position shortly, a spokesman for the department said last night. Civil servants are expected to be recruited to fill the staff positions in the new Office being set up in tandem.
"The Minister is committed to having the position filled by May of next year at the latest, but he hopes to have it filled sooner than that," the spokeman said.
The Ombudsman for Children Act was one of the last pieces of legislation passed before the last Government went out of office in May 2002.
Mr Lenihan is of the view that no purpose would be served by appointing an ombudsman for children without an office to provide the necessary back up.
"This is not just token participation," said Mr Lenihan of the moves to get children involved in the process. "Children need a real and meaningful voice. The input of children is paramount because their judgment is essential. Only they know what they want."
A Government protocol is being considered to avoid duplication of roles between the ombudsman an independent office and the National Children's Office, which also promotes children's rights.
"You can't pull the wool over children's eyes," said Maria Battle, the deputy children's commissioner for Wales, on which the Irish office is partly modelled. "The ombudsman
must be willing to take risks and defy power to assert the rights of children."
