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Ombudsman appointed to Board of Directors of International Ombudsman Institute

Date released: 12.11.1996

Following a closely contested election, the Ombudsman, Mr Kevin Murphy, has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the International Ombudsman Institute (IOI) at its sixth international conference in Buenos Aires.

This is the first time for Ireland's Ombudsman's Office to be represented on the Board and is a recognition of the esteem in which the Irish Office is held by the international Ombudsman community.

Mr Murphy was appointed Ombudsman just two years ago while the Office itself was established nearly 13 years ago in January 1984.

The IOI counts among its members Ombudsmen from 86 countries around the world as compared with 52 just four years ago. Among its aims are the promotion and development of the concept of Ombudsman - a symbol of modern democracies - throughout the world, particularly in those countries which have not yet incorporated it in their legal systems.

Mr Murphy was one of 8 candidates contesting 4 seats representing the European Region of the Institute. The other successful candidates were the Ombudsmen for the Netherlands, Denmark and Slovenia. Apart from participating with the 22 member Board in running the affairs of the Institute during the next 4 years, Mr Murphy will also have an important role to play in developing and implementing training and educational programmes for newly established Ombudsmen and their staff.

The appointment is an extremely prestigious one and Mr Murphy sees it as an endorsement of the success of the Ombudsman's Office in this country. He also views it as an opportunity for his Office to use its experience to the benefit of other countries thereby enhancing its reputation even further both at home and abroad.

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