Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)

If it were possible I would propose an amendment on the floor. I am only now seeing the limitations of the amendment. An amended version of section 4(3) could read: "The Ombudsman may, if it appears desirable in the public interest to do so and without receiving a complaint, investigate any matter that is brought to his attention." That gives full power to the ombudsman to decide what he should do.

The difficulty comes when one starts specifying. I accept the point made by Senator Minihan about this regarding paragraphs (a) and (b). We could just leave it open-ended. He will make a distinction between crackpot cases and genuine ones.

Senator Minihan referred to the over-civilianisation of the Defence Forces. I am sure he is aware that under section 2 the person who is the office holder is not a member of the Defence Forces but a civil servant.