Ombudsman spells out her role

A LETTER which you published on Thursday last queried the authority of my office to conduct the Big Ballot, a nationwide poll involving children and young people.

Unfortunately, the headline over the letter made reference to my “exceeding my powers” — a contention not borne out in the letter or at the High Court which recently dismissed an attempt to seek leave to challenge my authority to run the ballot.

The Ombudsman for Children Act 2002, which established my office, places a responsibility on me to highlight issues that are of concern to children and young people.

Running the Big Ballot was one of the many activities I am involved in to find out what those issues are.

It is my job to listen to children and to raise their issues at the highest level. This is a task entrusted to me by the Oireachtas which passed the act, and the children and young people involved in my selection as the Ombudsman for Children.

It is also a task that in excess of 70,000 children and their teachers in more than 500 schools which participated in the ballot have given their full support to.

Through our combined efforts, I hope that the voice of children and young people will be heard and that action will be taken to ensure that their rights are protected and realised.

Emily Logan

Ombudsman for Children

Millennium House

52-56 Great Strand Street

Dublin 1