Mr. Tony McCourt:

As it stands, the legislation states that an ombudsman may be appointed for any term not exceeding a term of seven years. My predecessor was appointed for three terms, namely, two terms of three years and one term of one year, making a total of seven. However, the legislation as it stands also provides that if a person had been appointed as ombudsman for the maximum term of seven years, he or she may be eligible to be reappointed. I do not have a personal view but the International Ombudsman Association sometimes is exercised by the fact that an ombudsman who is doing a good job and is not causing too much difficulty to the powers that be may be reappointed. The connection of a reappointment to the manner in which the ombudsman had performed his or her duties as the case may be always is a delicate balance. Consequently, as I stated, the appointing authorities may or may not wish to extend the term of somebody on conclusion. I do not have a personal view on the matter.