Tom Parlon (Laois-Offaly, Progressive Democrats)

I thank all the Senators who were here and who participated in the statements. Some others, I understand, were outside promoting their election campaigns while the debate was going on. I would like to refer to a few of the points raised. Senator Browne complimented the Ombudsman on printing the report in Irish and English. This has been the norm for several years. The office of the Ombudsman has a number of fluent Irish speakers, which is helpful. I expect that will obtain for the future. In any event the new legislation introduced by my colleague, the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Ó Cuív, will ensure that bilingual reports are delivered concurrently.

I note Senator Browne's interest in the disabled and in stroke survivors. It is an area of which we must all be conscious. The Ombudsman mentioned she will be getting new responsibilities under the code that will be more focused on their particular needs. That is a positive step. When the office of the Ombudsman was established, it dealt only with the Civil Service. It was subsequently extended to local authorities and the health boards. The idea was that each extension should take place in line with demand and when the Ombudsman's staff could undertake it without difficulty. For this reason the 1980 Act allowed new bodies to be added by Government order. This option is open, but the Ombudsman indicated she would prefer to follow the route laid down in the new Act, to take account of the way her office's procedures had evolved since 1984. The Government proposes to bring an amending Bill before the Oireachtas within the year and then to decide when each of the 130 excluded bodies will be brought within the Ombudsman's remit. A big bang approach, bringing all the bodies on board at once, could damage the excellent quality of the——