Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring:

I can get back to the Senator. We have been keeping a running total and I will get my up-to-date numbers. However, many of the complaints were about the measurement of 5 km. For example, my idea of 5 km and that of the Senator might be a bit elastic. Similarly, with essential purposes, what I think is essential might not be the same as the Senator. Therefore, many complaints were matters which did not necessarily lead to investigations. I must say that we received many compliments, as well as complaints, in terms of interactions with the Garda, both at checkpoints, but also generally in the community. We have kept those separate and I will come back to the Senator with the exact numbers for the year, as of yesterday.

We have been able to meet the challenges and move forward but, of course, there have been new matters that would not have been anticipated, even this time last year. It has been an interesting year. Obviously, when members of the public feel aggrieved and go to an ombudsman office, delays are challenging, because they feel that they are not being treated well, or heard. When delays in responding are explained to them, they may understand it, but it still does not necessarily help with their grievance. Therefore, managing complainants across the ombudsman community over the last year has been a new dimension to the work we do.

On the issue of quarterly meetings, that is a great idea. As soon as we can work out our relationship with the committee, that would not be a difficulty.