Reception for the Annual Meeting of the British and Irish Ombudsman Association, Government Buildings
Ann Abraham, Chair, British and Irish Ombudsman Association, Emily O’Reilly, Ombudsman and Information Commissioner, Tom Frawley, Northern Ireland Ombudsman, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen
I am very pleased, on behalf of the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, T.D., to welcome you to Government Buildings. The Taoiseach had hoped to welcome you personally but events beyond his control have prevented his doing so.
However, I am delighted to have this opportunity to meet you and express the good wishes of the Government on the occasion of your annual meeting here in Dublin.
I am particularly pleased that the meeting featured the special seminar this afternoon on developments on the island of Ireland and the particular institutional and policy developments that have been taking place, north and south of the border, as well as on an all-island basis. I am sure, from the distinguished speakers who participated in the seminar, that you had an opportunity to hear at first hand some of the issues and developments which are playing such a central role in the development of our society.
The concept of an Ombudsman is in some respects central to our modern understanding of citizenship. The institution of Ombudsman denotes not just fairness and the opportunity of righting a wrong, but it reflects a particular view of the rights of the individual relative to the State or to particular institutions which have the capacity to exercise great power over our lives. It denotes a culture of transparency and accountability. It speaks of a commitment to balance between the rights of the individuals, on the one hand, and the institutional arrangements which make a modern society possible. The concept of an Ombudsman also reflects confidence that we can design structures and appoint individuals to public positions in a way that deepens the confidence of the ordinary citizen.
On this island we have particular reason to appreciate the critical importance of such confidence, and of the acceptability of governance structures. We know the particular challenges of a divided society, and the painstaking efforts required to generate trust, so that a cohesive society can be developed in which all can attain their full potential. It is clear that an Ombudsman network, operating in respect of the key dimensions of public life has been, and will continue to be critically important in that quest for inclusive and effective governance.
The needs which have produced the development of Ombudsman mechanisms in the public sphere operate in other aspects of life, too. Accordingly, we have seen the development of Ombudsman-type arrangements in commercial life, some of which have developed into public institutions with legislative backing. So, we can conclude that the role of the Ombudsman, whether generic in scope or with a specific or sectoral focus, is an established and, indeed, growing part of the framework of a modern society.
For that reason, it is gratifying to know that your Association is active in sharing the experience and insights of members performing these valuable functions in a variety of settings and contexts. I particularly welcome the fact that your members from throughout Britain, from Northern Ireland and from here in the Republic can get together to reflect on how similar issues are addressed in different, but recognisably similar, institutional settings. I often feel that we have more to learn from considering the responses to common problems of those with whom we share a common legal system, parliamentary tradition and, to some extent, a political culture, than from societies which differ from us very substantially in these respects.
However, I hope that your gathering here in Dublin is not all about work and serious discussion. I am sure that it is also an opportunity to renew acquaintance and deepen friendship. I hope, too, that for those who are not regular visitors to Dublin, it will provide an opportunity to get to know a city which is both steeped in history and, at the same time, among the most exciting and youthful cities in Europe.
I conclude by wishing you well in your continued deliberations and to express the hope that you enjoy the rest of the evening.
ENDS