Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the witnesses. When the remit of the Ombudsman was extended but still excluded issues of asylum, prisoners and elements of the criminal justice system, it was a big mistake. I share the concerns around the issue, which was raised with the Minister at the time. There was an explanation that there would be independent procedures built upon to investigate, report and provide that accountability function but that is not the right way to go about this. Nevertheless, I am not the Minister. He also indicated that if it transpired that those systems were inadequate or not working, he would revisit the issue. We will probably be doing so in order to bring the issues under the umbrella of the Ombudsman and freedom of information legislation.

Will the witnesses provide insights in respect of the different agencies identified and the deaths within direct provision facilities? Have they any examples of where information was required but blocked?