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

The committee is now sitting in public session in its capacity as the Joint Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions. I wish to apologise to the Ombudsman, Mr. Peter Tyndall and his team for the delay. We have in these Houses an unfortunate practice where committees sit while the Houses are sitting. This is not the case in other administrations. If Mr. Tyndall had any opportunity, as Ombudsman, it may be something he would wish to comment upon at some stage.

The committee, as always, looks forward to his presentation. The committee is very pleased to welcome the Ombudsman, Mr. Tyndall, who will make a presentation on the issues addressed in his 2014 annual report. He will also report on the complaints handling system for public hospitals, Learning to Get Better. Mr. Tyndall is accompanied today by Ms Jacqui McCrum, director general and by Mr. Tom Morgan, senior investigator at the Office of the Ombudsman. I thank the witnesses for forwarding their presentation which has been circulated to members.

Mr. Tyndall, who was appointed Ombudsman in 2013, has previously held the posts of chief executive of the Welsh Arts Council and head of education and culture for Welsh local government. The committee is keen to hear his report on the issues he has addressed over the past 12 months and also his views on establishing a comprehensive complaints handling system for public hospitals, an issue he has raised with this committee on previous occasions.

Before commencing I must inform witnesses that, by virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to this committee.

If witnesses are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and continue to so do, they are entitled thereafter only to a qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. Witnesses are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and are asked to respect the 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 a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. I invite Mr. Tyndall to give his presentation.