Susan O'Keeffe (Labour) | Oireachtas source

The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform has stated that it is his intention to extend the Ombudsman's remit to all public bodies. The Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill 2008 was before the Seanad today and it will come to this committee. Perhaps it would be appropriate to have that discussion in this committee as it applies specifically to this petition. It is something that would have been raised anyway. It is good that a member of the public has brought that matter to our attention. In the first instance, perhaps the way to deal with this petition is to keep it open but discuss it when the legislation comes here.