Ombudsman to get oversight over another 140 public bodies

An additional 140 public bodies are to be brought under the remit of the Office of the Ombudsman.

Under the Ombudsman Amendment Act, which passed its final stage in the Dáil yesterday, the Ombudsman, Emily O’Reilly, will have the power to investigate the VECs, higher education institutions and a range of other bodies whose administrative actions have not previously been subject to investigation.

These organisations include the National Roads Authority, the National Treatment Purchase Fund, the Courts Service, Fás, the enterprise agencies, the Irish Medical Council, the National Consumer Agency, and other state bodies which conduct activities the daily lives of citizens.