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Information Manual (S16)

Foreword

Section 16 of the Freedom of Information Act, 1997 requires public bodies, subject to the Act, to publish:

In the case of the Office of the Ombudsman there are very few such rules, procedures etc. governing how the Ombudsman and his staff conduct their examination and investigation of complaints. The work of the Office is governed primarily by the Ombudsman Act, 1980 which is already in the public domain. The Ombudsman Act is supplemented for practical, operational purposes by two documents viz. firstly, a Staff Manual on Handling Complaints and, secondly, by a document on Liaison Arrangements with Bodies within Ombudsman's Jurisdiction. In compliance with the requirements of Section 16 of the Freedom of Information Act, 1997 the text of these two documents is now being made available in this publication.

Section 16 of the Freedom of Information Act, 1997 refers in particular to the publication of an index of any precedents which may be kept by the body. The Office of the Ombudsman does not operate to any significant extent on the basis of precedent. Indeed, the Ombudsman Act provides that the Ombudsman shall act in accordance with his own discretion in determining whether to initiate, continue or discontinue an investigation. While regard may be had to practice in previous cases, the overall requirement is to treat each complaint on its own particular merits.

Pat Whelan
Director
April 1998

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