The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Brendan Howlin TD, is seeking expressions of interest from suitably qualified individuals who wish to be considered for appointment as the Ombudsman and Information Commissioner. The chosen candidate will serve a six-year term and may be re-appointed to the office for a second or subsequent term.
The Ombudsman is a senior public official, charged with monitoring the public administration through the examination and investigation of complaints from members of the public who believe they have been adversely affected by the administrative actions of a public body.
The remit of the Ombudsman now covers all Government Departments, Local Authorities, the HSE, and roughly 180 additional public bodies recently added to the remit through the Ombudsman (Amendment) Act 2012. The Ombudsman also serves as Information Commissioner under Freedom of Information legislation, and as Commissioner for Environmental Information.
Interested candidates should have integrity, independence and “the gravitas and charisma to champion the rights of the citizen and/or groups of society in their dealings with the machinery of Government administration”. He or she should also “possess a broad understanding and knowledge of Irish public administration including the political and legal systems, and the governance of public bodies”.
Those interested in applying for the position should send a letter of application and a CV to Robert Watt, Secretary General, Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, Government Buildings, Upper Merrion St, Dublin 2 by 5pm on 26 August 2013. Applications can also be sent by email to ombeoi@per.gov.ie.