Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the amendment. It is a sound amendment and the role of the committee is being formally recognised.

On the point my colleague, Senator Sheahan, raised, we have come a long way in terms of this legislation and the number of bodies that will now be recognised by the Ombudsman. When I spoke here previously on this issue I said that the State Examinations Commission will now be governed by the Ombudsman, which will make a huge difference to people in terms of decisions that are made by the State examinations body. At least they will have the remedy of the Ombudsman.

Senator Sheahan has a fair point and if it is not possible to do what he suggests in this legislation, when we review the success of this Bill we might examine creating a situation where decisions of the Ombudsman are binding.