David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 82: To ask the Minister for Defence his views on the work of the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9844/09]

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 85: To ask the Minister for Defence if he has had a response to his recent letter to the Office of Public Works supporting the Ombudsman's request in regard to a suitable office being provided for herself and her staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9770/09]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 82 and 85 together.

The Office of the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces was established under the Ombudsman (Defence Forces) Act 2004. On the 19th September 2005, Ms. Paulyn Marrinan-Quinn SC was appointed by the President, upon the recommendation of the Government, as the first Ombudsman for the Defence Forces. She was re-appointed in September 2008 for a further period of three years.

The function of the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces is to act as the ultimate point of appeal for, and administrative investigation into, complaints made by members (and former members) of the Defence Forces against another member (or former member) of the Defence Forces, or against a civil servant of the Department of Defence. The Ombudsman for the Defence Forces may investigate a complaint in respect of an action or decision, which may have adversely affected the complainant personally. The action or decision complained of must have occurred on or after the 1st December 2005.

To date, the office of the Ombudsman has sent me some eighty-three Final Reports (83) reports. I have either responded to, or am in the process of responding to the Ombudsman in respect of each of the Final Reports.

The Ombudsman's recommendations in these reports cover issues specific to the case in question including proposals for redress where the Ombudsman has found that a person has been wronged. The reports may also include systemic matters that the Ombudsman has identified in her investigation of the case. In arriving at my determination on each case I take careful account of all of the Ombudsman's recommendations. I also take into account the specific and unique requirements of the Defence Forces organisation. I refer recommendations of a systemic nature to the appropriate Branches of my Department and to the Defence Forces for consideration in their ongoing development of best practice human resource management.

The input of the Ombudsman has assisted the Defence Forces in the revision of a number of HR procedures including the selection processes for career courses and overseas service. The recommendations in the Ombudsman's reports to me have also informed the revision of selection processes for promotion, a new version of which is currently being progressed with the representative associations through the conciliation and arbitration scheme.

The Office of the Ombudsman is currently located in Hatch Street, Dublin 2. While the provision of accommodation for the Ombudsman is primarily a matter for the OPW, I am anxious to ensure that her Office is provided with adequate and appropriate facilities.

The Ombudsman has sought alternative accommodation and I have supported her request to the Office of Public Works. I am advised that, in July last, the OPW identified potentially suitable premises that were then inspected by officials from the Ombudsman's office. When the Ombudsman advised me that this particular premises was found not to meet the requirements of her office I wrote to the OPW, again supporting the Ombudsman's request. The Minister for State at the OPW has recently written to me advising that the OPW is continuing to review its Dublin property portfolio with a view to identifying premises that would meet the operational needs of the Ombudsman's Office. In the meantime, remedial work is planned on the current office. I am advised that this work will be carried out over weekends so as to minimize disruption to the work of the Ombudsman's office.