[Notes for the editors]

The Office of Ombudsman for the Defence Forces was established under the provisions of the Ombudsman (Defence Forces) Act 2004. The Ombudsman is effectively the independent appeals mechanism for the Defence Forces internal Redress of Wrong System.

The redress of wrongs system, (s.114 of the Defence Act), provides that any member of the Defence Forces, who considers themselves to have been wronged in any matter, may make a complaint and have it investigated and redressed. Where the wrong is proven, redress is offered to the complainant. In the event that the complainant is unhappy with the result of an investigation or with the proposed redress, the matter is referred to the General Officer Commanding and, if that does not resolve the issue, to the Chief of Staff. If the complainant is still unhappy then they can have their complaint forwarded to the Ombudsman. The Ombudsman investigates cases referred to her, which fall within her remit.