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ALMEDI NICARAGE (Ombudsman Institution – Bosnia Herzegovina)
My name is Almedi Nicarage from the Institution of Ombudsman of
Bosnia-Herzegovina. So, thank you for the interesting presentation
and interesting panel and I have one question for Peter. You were
saying that parliaments are ombudsman’s best allies. I would like to
know your stand point when it comes to adopting annual reports of
ombudsman in a parliament because we know many of countries still
have this practice adopting the annual reports and special reports.
According to your opinion or practice is that the way to enhance the
work of ombudsman or to influence his independency? Is that the
way you would kind of a give more power to the recommendation of
ombudsman or is it a tool to replace the ombudsman that does its
works? So, I am actually curious to hear your view point. Thank you
very much.

PETER TYNDALL (Ombudsman of Ireland)

I think the role of the ombudsman as an officer of the parliament if
you like is a significant one. In our case different people of different
ombudsman have different experiences. There is no point in
pretending what works in one place will work in another because if
the relations between the parliament and the ombudsman are not
good the presentation of the annual report can be a tense and difficult
situation. Our experience is a very good way of highlighting the work
of the office, it attracts significant political attention, and it attracts
significant press attention.
When it was presented in the plenary session of the parliament there
was very little opportunity the ombudsman was not engaged that does
not provide the dialogue. So, I think this situation we have where there
is an opportunity to discuss the annual report with a committee of
the parliament whose job is to hold government to account is very
valuable. I will do it when I go back to Ireland we have a session booked,
the committee will also look at the report we were talking about they
will be very interest it in how they can use those reports in order to
improve public services in Ireland. So, I think it can be very valuable
but it can also be a weapon and if there is a formal requirement for
the parliament to adopt the annual report then it can be very difficult
for the ombudsman when the parliament refuse to adopt the report.

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