Ms Emily O'Reilly:

The level of engagement was a major issue for the Office of the Ombudsman. The creation of this committee was a major benefit. Previously, our engagement with the Oireachtas was ad hoc and sporadic. We would be invited to appear before a committee after an annual or an investigative report had been published, but then a few years could go by without any engagement whatsoever. The engagement with this committee is very important.