Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I have a certain sympathy with the Senator's comments. In an ideal world we would all like for no agencies to be exempt from the oversight of the Ombudsman. I understand that a number of agencies have been included now because commercial interests must be included in the exemptions list.

It is extremely regrettable that organisations that come under the aegis of the Department of the Justice and Equality, including the Irish Nationalisation and Immigration Service, INIS, Reception and Integration Agency, RIA, and the Prison Service shall not be covered by the Bill. The Schedule does not reflect that but my party wants them covered by the Bill. I am taken aback that the Fianna Fáil Party has gone down the same route and supports the viewpoint that the Department should remain outside the auspices of the Bill. The move is very regrettable and my party will seek to have it included in future versions of the Bill.