Committee Stage - Public Services Ombudsperson Bill

Please note that the closing date for submissions to the Committee is Tuesday 26th May 2015.

The Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsperson Bill was introduced into the Assembly on Monday 20 April 2015. The Bill successfully completed its Second Stage on Monday 11th May 2015. The Bill has been referred to the Ad hoc Committee to consider and report on by 30 September 2015.

The Bill will combine the offices of the Assembly Ombudsman and Commissioner for Complaints into a single new office to be known as the Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsperson (‘the NIPSO’), combining the powers and remit of the current offices. The Bill contains 57 clauses and 9 schedules.

The Committee put out a call for evidence to all interested parties in order to assist it with the scrutiny of the Bill. The closing date for submissions is Tuesday 26th May 2015.

All written submissions on this Bill should be structured to address the specific clauses and schedules of the Bill and, if appropriate, should include the wording of any amendments you wish to propose to the text.

Further information on the Committee's scrutiny of the Bill can be found below:

1. You can view the Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsperson Bill here.
2. You can view the Explanatory and Financial Memorandum here.
3. A letter inviting submissions
4. A guide to submitting written evidence is here.
5. Assembly Research Papers:
   Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsperson Bill
   Northern Ireland Public Service Ombudsman Bill – Update on Estimated Cost Implications