Ombudsman’s report - State must do more for children

THERE is a depressing sense of groundhog day about yesterday’s report from the Ombudsman for Children.

Her often scathing comments are a damning indictment of the Government’s failure to implement a radical overhaul of existing legislation which, instead of streamlining the work of this important statutory office, actually impedes its progress.

In her first annual report, Ombudsman Emily Logan has voiced serious concerns about her lack of investigative powers to assist groups of vulnerable young people who she is actively prevented from helping.