Ombudsman critical of Oireachtas for "poor governance"

[David Cochrane]

The Ombudsman and Information Commissioner Emily O'Reilly speaking at a conference today on governance, has said that she believes poor governance in private and public institutions lies at the heart of the economic problems in Ireland.

In particular, she used her speech to criticise the Oireachtas for voting along party lines to reject her recommendations over Lost at Sea, saying that she did not believe the parliament was able to hold the executive to account.

O'Reilly said that her office is doing what the Financial Regulator has been accused of not doing "in terms of failing to serve the public interest and rooting out maladministration in the banking system".

The full text of her speech is available here.

[The Dude]

The rejection of her findings on Lost at Sea and the whitewash at Committee level is nothing short of disgraceful and I'm amazed there hasn't been more media pressure on it.

[powderfinger]

Eamon Keane about to discuss this with Frank Fahey on Newstalk.

edit.and Tom Sheehan FG TD for Kerry South

[Panopticon]

When all bar two Fianna Fáil TDs are on the Government's or Chief Whip's payroll, why would they or the other side set up institutions that really hold them to account?

[makingjam]

"I will submit that the economic and political crises that face this country will never be dealt with unless the culture and values of the political and administrative classes undergo profound change."

Damning stuff from the ombudsman. And completely right too, for all the difference it will make.

[Malbekh]

That's a great essay from O'Reilly, if I can summarise the frustration on her failure to get a fair hearing it would be this:

What actually happened was as follows. On 4 February 2010 my Report was the subject of discussion in the Dáil; an attempt to have it referred for consideration by a committee was defeated following a vote on the Order of Business; the vote was 68 to 63 with the Members voting along party lines. On that same day there was a lengthy debate on the Report in the Dáil itself but this took the form of a series of statements rather than any detailed engagement with the substance of the investigation. This process was repeated in the Seanad on 18 February with another exchange of statements. Throughout these exchanges, the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food expressed the view that, despite his admiration for the work of my Office and for the ombudsman institution generally, in this particular case he takes the view that "there is no basis for payment in the amount proposed or any amount". Furthermore, the Minister for State rejected my findings that the actions complained of were "contrary to fair or sound administration".

On 2 March 2010 the Opposition parties in the Dáil made another attempt to have my Report referred for consideration by an Oireachtas Committee but the Taoiseach took the view that it was a matter for the particular committee as to whether or not it looked at my Report. On 3 March, an attempt was made at a meeting of the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to have the Report considered. This attempt failed following a vote which followed party political lines. And there, it appears, matters rest.

[locke]

The rejection of her findings on Lost at Sea and the whitewash at Committee level is nothing short of disgraceful and I'm amazed there hasn't been more media pressure on it.

I can only assume that they're waiting for it to go to a full Dail vote.

It was always known that FF TDs would protect one of their own, so better to get the drama of seeing the Greens squirm at being expected to bury a report, which could indicate corruption.

[lostexpectation]

when will it go to a full dail vote then?

[darkknight]

Speaking of governance, I am surprised to note the size of the staff at Ms. O'Reilly's own institution.

The Office of the Ombudsman managed to produce a grand total of 2 (two!) 'Investigation Reports' in 2009!

Office of the Ombudsman - Staff

Director General
* Pat Whelan


Corporate Services
Shared Services Manager

* Liam Kelly


Head of Corporate Services Unit (CSU)

* Stephen Rafferty


CSU - Finance Section

* Stephanie O'Connell
* Raymond Butler
* Karen Duff
* Alan Perkins


CSU - Human Resources

* Mary Byrne
* Gary Kelly
* Kathleen Smyth
* Laura Stephens


CSU - Training & Development Unit

* Fiona McCarney
* Elizabeth Martin


Private Secretary to the Ombudsman

* Catherine Rousset


Services Officers

* Noel Monaghan
* Noel Whelan


IT Manager

* Richie Philpott


IT Unit

* Eoin Keaveny
* Damien Egan
* Paul Howe


Communications & Research
Head of Communications & Research

* David Glynn


Communications & Research Unit

* Ed McDaid
* Mary Pepper
* Pearse O'Connor


Local Authority Section

Senior Investigators

* Fintan Butler
* Tom Morgan


Investigators

* Tony Hayden
* Maurice Kiely
* David Nutley
* David Ryan
* Aimée Tallon
* Bernard Traynor


Support Staff

* Elaine Brady
* Chris Cogan
* Ahmed El Baradie
* James Hayes
* Evelyn Hernon
* Barry Meskell
* Siobhán O'Connor
* David Stone
* Jean Sullivan


Social Welfare/Health Section
Senior Investigators

* Fintan Butler
* Bernie McNally


Investigators

* Ciara Burns
* Derek Charles
* Emer Doyle
* Patricia Doyle
* Patsy Fitzsimons
* Matt Merrigan
* Aoife Nic Réamoinn
* Willy O'Doherty
* Brendan O'Neill
* Donal O'Sullivan


Support Staff

* Kellie Finnegan
* Geraldine Kelly
* Iris Kilbey
* Lee Lundberg
* Paul Mallen
* Brian McKeon
* Kieran O'Neill
* Sarah van der Mescht


Civil Service Section
Senior Investigators

* Fintan Butler
* Tom Morgan


Investigators

* Anne Boland
* Rachel Dunn
* Aidan Moore (Aidan is also our Access Officer)
* Aoibheann Ní Shúilleabháin


Support Staff

* Elizabeth Culhane
* Brian Murphy
* Sheila McCarthy
* Máire Ní Fhiacháin
* Deborah Smyth

That's a lot of people for 2 Reports!!




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[Mitsui2]

Isn't it some country, though, when it's left to the Information Commissioner to point out that the Dáil can't even hold the Executive responsible for its lack of responsibility? Where would you get it?