The Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsperson (NIPSO) Bill

12 May 2015

Following the introduction of this Bill to the Assembly on 20 April 2015, the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minster wrote to advise that, subject to Assembly approval, the Bill would be referred to an Ad Hoc Committee that would undertake the detailed Committee Stage scrutiny of the Bill.

On completion of the Second Stage of the Bill on 11 May 2015, the Ad Hoc Committee on the Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsperson Bill was established and has now commenced the Committee Stage of the Bill.

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 Ad Hoc Committee would welcome your views on the proposed Bill. The Committee requests that all written submissions are 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 that text.

The Bill, accompanying Explanatory Memorandum and relevant Research Papers are now available on the Committee’s web page.

The Committee requests that you submit written evidence by e-mail to nipsoadhoccommittee@niassembly.gov.uk or by post to the address above.

The Committee will accept written submissions up to 5pm on Tuesday 26 May 2015 but would be grateful for responses before this date wherever possible.

Yours sincerely

Claire McCanny
Senior Assistant Assembly Clerk
NIPSO Ad Hoc Committee