Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome our witnesses. It is good to have them back with us. I join with Deputy Murphy in asking that the Chairman would bring clarity to the communication piece that he said he would address prior to our last meeting, which has not yet been done and which I believe he has a duty to do. As Deputy Murphy has said, we will not do it today because we have very important work.

In the context of Mr. Tyndall's last remarks on Covid-19, how is the resource situation for ombudspersons with regard to their work? Given the importance of electronic tools and social media for communication, and notwithstanding that traditional forms of participation are kept open, what is the position with resources?

Deputy Murphy referred to the paper given by Mr. Tyndall in Turkey in 2015 where he spoke about laying the special report before the Houses of the Oireachtas. Mr. Tyndall said that the Ombudsman legislation does not specify what action, if any, the Houses of the Oireachtas may take following receipt of a special report. In the context of our commentary around a memorandum of understanding what do the witnesses believe would be the appropriate response we should give? As a former chairman of a committee, is there merit in the ombudspersons appearing before the committee on a quarterly basis, as the HSE chief executive or the Minister do in the health committee? I am open to having a debate about this. Should there be an avenue such as a joint sitting of the Houses of the Oireachtas where the forum could present its annual report or its special report? I am aware that the Venice Principles talk of the importance of not damaging the role of the ombudsperson and that there should be no withdrawal of services. Under the Venice Principles around maladministration and the protection and promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms, have there been petitions or requests from members of the publicvis-à-visthe temporary restrictions of rights of people in the context of Covid-19?