Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

How can the Committee on Public Petitions support Ms O'Reilly more, and vice versa, such that we could have a memorandum of understanding on supporting each other? Having been a member of the petitions committee, I am aware of its potential. There is obviously great potential but there is also potential to work with our European counterparts and, more importantly, Ms O'Reilly, in addition to our Ombudsman in Ireland. That is one part of my question.

My other question concerns the only point that really worries me. I am asking for Ms O'Reilly's opinion more than anything else. Where the final recommendations of an Ombudsman are received by our petitions committee, would Ms O'Reilly find it prudent if we were to challenge them and say that, as members of a petitions committee, we did not agree with the decision? Would that be a good idea? Would it be outside the remit? I want to try to touch all bases here. I would like Ms O'Reilly's opinion on the matter because we want this committee to work properly and do not want to be setting off on the wrong foot.