Ombudsman’s role compromised

WITH all the focus on the economy, it’s understandable that an event that could have profound consequences for the democratic process escaped scrutiny.

For only the second instance in the history of the state, an Oireachtas committee, comprising an all-party agricultural panel, overturned the judgment of the Ombudsman. In 2001, the then fisheries minister Frank Fahy initiated a scheme enabling families who lost vessels and family members at sea to resume fishing activities.

It subsequently transpired that six applicants were successful under what was termed the Lost at Sea Scheme. The total amount allocated came to €2.8 million, most of which went to two constituents of the minister in west Galway. The application of a fishing family in Donegal, the Byrnes, who lost two members at sea, was rejected and they took their case to the Ombudsman, Emily O’Reilly. After thorough investigation, she found the scheme to be “unfair, inappropriate and unbalanced” and that the Byrne family was entitled to recompense.