Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I welcome the opportunity to speak briefly on this Bill and the ombudsman in particular. There is no point in having jobs for the boys and the girls in the form of the ombudsman if the position does not have authority or the necessary powers. We have many of those jobs.

Recently, I wrote to the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Lenihan, regarding a case and the Ombudsman for Children, who stated the case was not under her remit. If an ombudsman is to be established, he or she must be given the power to enter solicitors' offices and do what must be done. The 50-year fiasco that is the Law Society of Ireland investigating solicitors is the greatest joke. Its people who appear on its behalf on radio are well spoken, but they do not deal with the complaints that have been made over the years.

I hope the ombudsman will not be a joke and will have real powers. Many a person has not got justice from the State because he or she did not have the money or resources to bring a case to court. Some such persons are dead now. If a murderer, rapist or robber——

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