Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy makes much sense. In the review published we set out about having common or shared backroom services between the Ombudsman and the Ombudsman for Children and other ombudsmen. Although most of them are women, the new Ombudsman is a man. It is important we have support services that are rationalised but do not interfere with the regulators’ autonomy and have clear lines of demarcation. We are working on the shared services agenda and requiring every line Department to ensure all regulators under their aegis create synergies. In the case of a new authority to be established, we require the first port of call to be to an existing regulatory body to see if it can be latched on to it.

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