The Malta Independent editorial on the need of a Select Committee to discuss the Ombudsman's reports

The Malta Independent editorial on the need of a Select Committee to discuss the Ombudsman's reports

Published January 23, 2025

In an editorial titled “The Ombudsman’s job to recommend, the government’s job to listen,” published in The Malta Independent, Parliamentary Ombudsman Judge Emeritus Joseph Zammit McKeon’s perspective on the importance of the Ombudsman’s moral authority was highlighted. During an interview with the newspaper, Judge Zammit McKeon emphasised that the Ombudsman’s primary responsibility is to issue recommendations rather than wield executive power.

The editorial underscores how the Ombudsman’s work hinges on whether government entities uphold their moral obligation to consider and act upon the institution’s recommendations. While the Ombudsman listens to and investigates complaints brought by citizens—even if not all are justified—the ultimate goal is to ensure fair treatment and responsive governance.

However, a significant concern emerges when recommendations remain unimplemented. The editorial points out that in several instances, sustained recommendations have not been carried out, prompting the Ombudsman to table such cases in Parliament. The 2025 Ombudsplan proposes setting up a Select Committee of the House specifically to address these unimplemented recommendations and reinforce accountability. This idea would harness Parliament’s power—“the cradle of the country’s democracy”—to ensure that authorities do their jobs and that citizens receive proper redress.

The Malta Independent editorial concludes that reducing the number of unheeded recommendations, alongside legislative measures to reinforce the Ombudsman’s moral authority, would be an important step towards more effective, transparent, and accountable governance. 

Read the editorial