Peter Tyndall Explained

Peter Tyndall is a former Irish public servant who served as the Ombudsman and the Information Commissioner of Ireland from 2013 to 2021.^[1]

Ombudsman

Tyndall was nominated in November 2013.^[2] He received his warrant of appointment from president Michael D. Higgins on 2 December 2013.^{[3] [4] [5] [6]} He was reappointed in 2019.^{[7] [8]}

As Ombudsman Peter Tyndall published a number of reports including:

• 'A Good Death'^[9] (June 2014): a report into end of care life in Irish hospitals.
• 'Learning to Get Better'^[10] (May 2015): an investigation into how public hospitals handle complaints
• 'Taking Stock'^[11] (July 2017): an investigation into complaint handling and issues identified in complaints made about the Child and Family Agency (Tusla). The reports made a number of recommendations which are being implemented. Follow-up reports to 'Learning to Get Better'^[12] and 'A Good Death' ^[13] were published in 2018.
• Opportunity Lost^[14] (November 2017) was an investigation into the administration of the Magdalen Restorative Justice Scheme (a redress scheme for women who worked in Magdalene laundries). The report was critical of how the Department of Justice and Equality administered the scheme. The Ombudsman's recommendations were initially rejected by the department. However, in April 2018 the Minister of Justice and Equality, and the Taoiseach announced that there would be full implementation of the Ombudsman's recommendations.^[15]

In November 2016 Peter Tyndall was elected President of the International Ombudsman Institute^[16] at the 11th IOI World Conference in Bangkok.

He retired from office at the end of 2021.^[17]

Personal life

Tyndall is a Dubliner who lived in Wales for more than 30 years where he occupied a variety of senior positions in housing and social care. He has also been Head of Education and Culture for the Welsh Local Government Association, Chief Executive of the Arts Council of Wales, and latterly the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales from 2008 to 2013. He was Chairman of the British and Irish Ombudsman Association for two years, and is a member of the World and European Boards of the International Ombudsman Institute.

Tyndall has an M.Sc. degree in Strategic Management from Cardiff University and is married with three daughters.

Notes and References

1. Web site: History of the Office of the Ombudsman . Office of the Ombudsman . 26 December 2023 . 25 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231225083722/https://www.ombudsman.ie/about-us/who-we-are/history-of-the-office-of/ . live .
2. Web site: Appointment of Ombudsman: Motion – Dáil Éireann (31st Dáil) – Vol. 819 No. 1 . Oireachtas . 5 November 2023 . 2 January 2024 . 28 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220528004254/https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2013-11-05/35/ . live .
3. Ceapachán an Choimisinéara Faisnéise / Ceapachán an Ombudsman . . 6 December 2013 . 2013 . 98 . 1508–1509 . 2 January 2024 . 2 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230402112936/https://www.irisoifigiuil.ie/archive/2013/december/Ir061213.pdf#page=10 . live .
4. Web site: President appoints Peter Tyndall as Ombudsman and Information Commissioner . https://web.archive.org/web/20131211110525/http://www.ombudsman.gov.ie/en/News/Media-Releases/2013-Media-Releases/President-appoints-Peter-Tyndall-Ombudsman.html . 2013-12-11 . The Office of the Ombudsman . 2013-12-02.
5. Web site: President appoints Peter Tyndall as Ombudsman and Information Commissioner . https://web.archive.org/web/20131215020622/http://www.oic.gov.ie/en/News/Media-Releases/2013-Media-Releases/President-appoints-Peter-Tyndall-as-Ombudsman-and-Information-Commissioner.html . 2013-12-15 . The Office of the Information Commissioner . 2013-12-02.
6. http://per.gov.ie/2013/12/02/appointment-of-mr-peter-tyndall-as-ombudsman-and-information-commissioner-2/ Appointment of Mr Peter Tyndall as Ombudsman and Information Commissioner
7. Ceapachán an Choimisinéara Faisnéise / Ceapachán an Ombudsman . Iris Oifigiúil . 6 December 2019 . 2019 . 98 . 1709–1710 . 2 January 2024 . 18 November 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211118074803/http://www.irisoifigiuil.ie/archive/2019/december/Ir061219_New_Revised.pdf#page=5 . live .
8. Minister Donohoe welcomes the reappointment of Mr Peter Tyndall as Ombudsman and Information Commissioner . Government of Ireland . 3 December 2019 . 2 January 2024 . 18 July 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220718135645/https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/2b3dfb-minister-donohoe-welcomes-the-reappointment-of-mr-peter-tyndall-as-o/ . live .
9. Web site: A Good Death. June 2014. Office of the Ombudsman. 25 April 2018. 25 April 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180425000135/https://www.ombudsman.ie/en/Publications/Investigation-Reports/Health-Service-Executive/A-Good-Death/. dead.
10. Web site: Learning to Get Better. May 2015. Office of the Ombudsman. 25 April 2018. 25 April 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180425000119/https://www.ombudsman.ie/en/Publications/Investigation-Reports/Health-Service-Executive/Learning-to-Get-Better/. dead.
11. Web site: Taking Stock. July 2017. Office of the Ombudsman. 25 April 2018. 25 April 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180425102624/https://www.ombudsman.ie/en/publications/investigation-reports/government-departments-other-public-bodies/taking-stock/. dead.
12. Web site: Learning To Get Better: Progress Report.Office of the Ombudsman. September 2018 . 25 September 2019 . 25 September 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190925215632/https://www.ombudsman.ie/publications/reports/learning-to-get-better-pr/LearningTGBProgressFINAL.pdf . live .
13. Web site: A Good Death Progress Report. Office of the Ombudsman. 2018 . 25 September 2019 . 25 September 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190925220739/https://www.ombudsman.ie/publications/reports/a-good-death-progress-rep/index.xml . live .
14. Web site: Opportunity Lost. November 2017. Office of the Ombudsman. 25 April 2018. 24 April 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180424181422/https://www.ombudsman.ie/en/publications/investigation-reports/government-departments-other-public-bodies/magdalen-report/. dead.
15. News: Government plans to broaden Magdalene redress scheme welcomed. The Irish Times. 2018-04-25. en-US. 25 April 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180425183709/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/government-plans-to-broaden-magdalene-redress-scheme-welcomed-1.3465533. live.
16. Web site: The International Ombudsman Institute - About. International Ombudsman Institute. 25 April 2018. 18 April 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180418023833/http://www.theioi.org/the-i-o-i#anchor-index-2018. live.
17. Minister McGrath recommends Ger Deering for the role of Ombudsman and Information Commissioner . Government of Ireland . 23 November 2021 . 2 January 2024 . 10 December 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221210030559/https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/73f07-minister-mcgrath-recommeds-ger-deering-for-the-role-of-ombudsman-and-information-commissioner/ . live .