Ms Doireann Ansbro:

I thank the Senator for his question. The ICCL fully supports procedural fairness. If there are issues concerning procedural fairness, then they should certainly be examined. Our view is that this proposed legislation contains several protections. The new ombudsman will be accountable to the Oireachtas and, potentially, to the High Court. We do not, therefore, consider this to be an unaccountable accountability body. This proposed legislation has accountability built into it.

We also view the proposed legislation as imposing a requirement on the new ombudsman's office to ensure that it executes its functions with fairness in respect of complainants and those being investigated. Our view, therefore, is that safeguards exist in this proposed legislation. If there are serious concerns in this regard, however, and if there are ways in which we can strengthen procedural fairness for everyone subject to investigation, then that is absolutely something which should be examined.