Irish Ombudsman and Second Vice-President of the International Ombudsman Institute, Peter Tyndall, has warmly welcomed the announcement by Ireland’s Deputy Prime Minister that prisoners will be able to have their complaints independently investigated by his Office.

The move will bring Ireland into line with other jurisdictions which provide for independent oversight of prisoner complaints. 

Ombudsman Peter Tyndall said:

"I warmly welcome the announcement that my Office should examine complaints from adult prisoners. Ombudsmen in other jurisdictions deal with complaints from prisoners and we are delighted to take on this role in Ireland. We will work closely with the Irish Prison Service, the Department of Justice and Equality, the Inspector of Prisons and other key stakeholders to put an effective complaints process in place that benefits both prisoners and the prison service.”

The announcement follows a report by Inspector of Prisons, Judge Michael Reilly, into prisoner complaints systems in Ireland.  The report contains a number of recommendations including that the Ombudsman be given jurisdiction over prisoner complaints.

In May the Ombudsman hosted a seminar, ‘The Ombudsman Behind Bars:  The role of Ombudsmen in prisoner complaints’, which was addressed by Judge Reilly, Howard Sapers Correctional Investigator of Canada, Niki MacLean, Director of the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman, and Aidan Hunt from the Irish Children’s Ombudsman office.

Further information is available on the Ombudsman’s website www.ombudsman.ie.