Northern Ireland Ombudsman
Encyclopedia
The Northern Ireland Ombudsman combines two official offices, the Assembly Ombudsman for Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Complaints.
The Office of the Northern Ireland Ombudsman was established in 1969, but its current governing statutes are the Ombudsman (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 and the Commissioner for Complaints (Northern Ireland) Order 1996. His role is to deal with complaints of maladministration by government and public bodies in Northern Ireland
. Unlike the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales
, he has no role in investigating individual ethical conduct by councillors.
The Ombudsman is appointed by the Queen. The current Ombudsman, holding both offices, is Tom Frawley CBE, who was appointed in 2000.
As Commissioner for Complaints the Ombudsman may investigate:
By the Commissioner for Complaints (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 1997, his functions include complaints about doctors, dentists, pharmacists and optometrists providing family health services and complaints by other health care professionals in the Health and Personal Social Services. This includes complaints about the exercise of clinical judgement by health care professionals.
The Office of the Northern Ireland Ombudsman was established in 1969, but its current governing statutes are the Ombudsman (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 and the Commissioner for Complaints (Northern Ireland) Order 1996. His role is to deal with complaints of maladministration by government and public bodies in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. Unlike the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales
Public Services Ombudsman for Wales
The Public Services Ombudsman for Wales was established by of the Public Services Ombudsman Act 2005...
, he has no role in investigating individual ethical conduct by councillors.
The Ombudsman is appointed by the Queen. The current Ombudsman, holding both offices, is Tom Frawley CBE, who was appointed in 2000.
Bodies the Ombudsman may investigate
As Assembly Ombudsman the Ombudsman may investigate:- Northern Ireland GovernmentExecutive Committee of the Privy Council of Northern IrelandThe Executive Committee or the Executive Committee of the Privy Council of Northern Ireland was the government of Northern Ireland created under the Government of Ireland Act 1920. Generally known as either the Cabinet or the Government, the Executive Committee existed from 1922 to 1972...
Departments - Government agencies and other government organizations
- The Administrative functions of tribunalTribunalA tribunal in the general sense is any person or institution with the authority to judge, adjudicate on, or determine claims or disputes—whether or not it is called a tribunal in its title....
s
As Commissioner for Complaints the Ombudsman may investigate:
- Local councilsLocal government in Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland is divided into 26 districts for local government purposes. In Northern Ireland local councils do not carry out the same range of functions as those in the rest of the United Kingdom, for example they have no responsibility for education, for road building or for housing...
- Education and library boards
- Harbour authorities
- Health and social services boards
- Health and Social Services Councils and Trusts
- Special Health and Social Services Agencies
- The Housing ExecutiveNorthern Ireland Housing ExecutiveThe Northern Ireland Housing Executive is the public housing authority for Northern Ireland. It is the enforcing authority for those parts of housing orders that involve houses with multiple occupants, houses that are unfit, and housing conditions.- Origins :...
- Registered Housing AssociationsHousing associationHousing associations in the United Kingdom are independent not-for-profit bodies that provide low-cost "social housing" for people in housing need. Any trading surplus is used to maintain existing homes and to help finance new ones...
- Certain other public bodies listed in the Order
By the Commissioner for Complaints (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 1997, his functions include complaints about doctors, dentists, pharmacists and optometrists providing family health services and complaints by other health care professionals in the Health and Personal Social Services. This includes complaints about the exercise of clinical judgement by health care professionals.
See also
- Standards Board for EnglandStandards Board for EnglandStandards for England, formerly known as the Standards Board for England, is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Communities and Local Government. Established following the Local Government Act 2000, it is responsible for promoting high ethical standards in local democracy...
- Adjudication Panel for EnglandAdjudication Panel for EnglandThe Adjudication Panel for England was an independent judicial tribunal set up under the Local Government Act 2000. It was a Non-departmental public body which ruled on complaints referred to it by the Standards Board for England regarding alleged breaches of English local authorities' codes of...
- Ethical Standards in Public Life etc. (Scotland) Act 2000Ethical Standards in Public Life etc. (Scotland) Act 2000The Ethical Standards in Public Life etc. Act 2000 is an Act of the Scottish Parliament which established that the Scottish Ministers had to issue a code of conduct for councillors, and put in place mechanisms for dealing with councillors in contravention of the code...
- Standards Commission for ScotlandStandards Commission for ScotlandThe Standards Commission for Scotland was established under the Ethical Standards in Public Life etc. Act 2000. The Commission's purpose is to advance high ethical standards in public life...
- Public Services Ombudsman for WalesPublic Services Ombudsman for WalesThe Public Services Ombudsman for Wales was established by of the Public Services Ombudsman Act 2005...
- Commissioner for Children and Young People, Northern IrelandCommissioner for Children and Young People, Northern Ireland4 NationsThe Commissioner for Children and Young People, Northern Ireland is a publicly funded post, with responsibility for protecting children's rights as set out in the Convention on the Rights of the Child...