Plans to give asylum seekers access to Ombudsman under consideration

The Department of Justice is discussing plans to allow asylum seekers to access the independent Offices of the Ombudsman and the Ombudsman for Children.

Minister of State David Stanton, told TDs: “My Department is in discussion with the Office of the Attorney General and the Offices of the Ombudsman and the Ombudsman for Children with a view to extending their remit to allow them to receive complaints from persons residing in State provided accommodation.

“The extension of the remit of these Offices will require legislative amendment and full and detailed consideration is being given to these amendments.

“The type of complaints that will be accepted will be those relating to the services provided to protection applicants in their State provided accommodation centre. Complaints relating to the international protection process itself will not fall within this arrangement.

“I am optimistic that this process can be concluded speedily to allow residents in State provided accommodation access to the independent Offices of the Ombudsman and the Ombudsman for Children at the earliest opportunity.”

Children’s charity Barnardo’s has welcomed moves to allow the Ombudsman for Children to receive complaints from asylum seekers.

Barnardo’s chief executive Fergus Finlay told The Irish Times: “The Ombudsman for Children should be able to receive complaints about the welfare and rights of children in direct provision and should be able to investigate them.”