Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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330. To ask the Minister for Defence the date on which the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces will publish an annual report for 2012 and for 2013; if there are any statutory obligations with regard to the publication of such reports and the timeframe for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19992/14]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The office of Ombudsman for the Defence Forces (ODF) was established as an independent statutory office, under the Ombudsman (Defence Forces) Act 2004. The ODF has full independence and autonomy in the discharge of his statutory functions. Section 7 of the 2004 Act requires the ODF to publish his annual report within 4 months of the end of year. I am advised by the ODF that due to particular circumstances, relating to High Court proceedings arising during 2013, the Annual Report for 2012 of the ODF was not published. I am further advised that the ODF expects to publish the said report in the first half of this year and the 2013 report will follow shortly thereafter.