Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The committee is sitting in its capacity as Joint Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions. I remind those present to switch off their mobile phones. We are pleased to welcome today Mr. Paul Kenny, Pensions Ombudsman, who will make a presentation on the role and remit of the ombudsman and the challenges facing his organisation in light of the proposed amalgamations. He is accompanied today by Ms Joan Bray, senior investigator. I welcome them and thank them for forwarding their presentation which has been circulated to members. Mr. Kenny was appointed Pensions Ombudsman in 2003 and reappointed in 2009. The role of the Pensions Ombudsman is to investigate complaints of financial loss due to maladministration and disputes of fact or law in relation to certain pension retirement schemes. The Pensions Ombudsman acts as an impartial adjudicator and is completely independent in the performance of these functions. Many of our members are eager to hear the presentation and engage with the representatives.
I must inform witnesses that by virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act, 2009 they are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they give to this committee. If they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence in relation to a particular matter and they continue to do so, they are entitled thereafter only to a qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. They are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and are asked to respect parliamentary practice to the effect that where possible they should not criticise or make charges against any person, persons or entity by name or in such way as to make him, her or it identifiable.