Committee on Investigations

NEW COMMITTEE TO PLACE CITIZENS AT HEART OF PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM

Senator Susan O’Keeffe today launched the new Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service, Oversights and Petitions. The Committee will seek to focus its work on investigating and identifying improvements in the delivery of public service to citizens.

“The Committee will provide an oversight on the delivery of public services. Furthermore we will accept petitions from individual citizens and we will be able to address issues of serious concern.”

“The Committee will work closely with the Ombudsman and will advise the House on the introduction of legislation to ensure the public is well served by the state and its agencies.”

“We are seeking to have powers of compellability to allow the Committee to investigate relevant matters. This will result in a vigorous, powerful committee which will operate in parallel to the Public Accounts Committee.”

“I am delighted to see the launch of this cross-party Committee that will allow for the citizen to interact formally with the Oireachtas regarding concerns with public service delivery. The Government committed in the Programme for Government to ensuring a more transparent Oireachtas and this Committee is an important step towards this.”