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Updated to 23 October 2025 (Act No. 10 of 2025 and S.I. No. 506 of 2025)

Ombudsman Act 1980
No. 26 of 1980

Contents

Commencement

Section Commencement/Effective Date
Where the commencement and effective dates differ, the effective date is shown below.
 Commencement Information
Whole Act 7 July 1983 Ombudsman Act 1980 (Appointed Day) Order 1983, S.I. No. 424 of 1983

Amendments and other effects

How Affected Affecting Provision
Act included in collectively cited Ombudsman Acts 19/1984, s. 2(2)
  38/2012, s. 1(2)
Ombudsman exempted from Data Protection restrictions S.I. No. 221 of 2022, reg. 7
Application of collectively cited Ombudsman Acts extended 40/2013, ss. 1(2), 69(2)
  42/2004, ss. 3, 54(2)
Ombudsman power to prosecute 14/2005, ss. 1(2), 55(4)(b)
Functions under collectively cited Ombudsman Acts transferred with transitional provisions 42/2004, ss. 3(1), 4, 58, 59 (1) (2) (3), 74, schs. 3, 5 pt. 9
Application of Act restricted S.I. No. 484 of 2011
  36/2004, ss. 4(7)(a), (b), 19(2)
  5/1999, ss. 10, 11(2)
Act applied with necessary modifications 17/2005, s. 28(4)
  14/2005, ss. 1(2), 40
  1/1999, ss. 1(2), 50(2) (4)
Application of Act confirmed 39/1997, ss. 1093, 1097
Certain records excluded from application of Act 13/1997, ss. 1(2), 46(1)(3)(c)
Functions transferred and references construed S.I. No. 418 of 2011, arts. 1(2), 3 & sch. 1
  S.I. No. 81 of 1987, art. 4
S. 1(1) am. 38/2012, ss. 1(3), 3(a)
S. 1(1) applied with modifications 14/2005, ss. 1(2), 40(a)
S. 1(3) am. 38/2012, ss. 1(3), 3(b)
S. 1A ins. 38/2012, ss. 1(3), 4
S. 2(2A) ins. 38/2012, ss. 1(3), 5(a)
S. 2(3)(b) amended 27/2022, ss. 1(2), 34
S. 2(3)(b) relevant provision for purposes of 33/2013, ss. 1(2), 9(6)(d)
S. 2(3)(c) substituted 37/2012, ss. 1(2), 61(a)
  7/2004, schedule 2, pt. 3 as inserted by 39/2018, s. 7, schedule
S. 2(3)(c) am. 7/2004, ss. 3, 6, 7, 10, sch. 2, pt. 2
S. 2(5)(a) am. 38/2012, ss. 1(3), 5(b)
S. 2(5)(b) am. 38/2012, ss. 1(3), 5(b)
S. 2(6), non applic. of. 30/2014, ss. 1(2), (3), 43(5)(b)
  13/1997, ss. 1(2) (3), 33(5)
S. 2(7) substit. 37/2012, ss. 1(2), 61(b)
S. 2(7) deleted 7/2004, schedule 2, pt. 3 as inserted by 39/2018, s. 7, schedule
S. 2(7) am. 7/2004, ss. 3, 6, 7, 10, sch. 2, pt. 2
S. 3 application restricted 30/2014, ss. 1(2)-(4), 5(b), (c)
S. 3(1) substit. 39/2011, ss. 1(2), 13
S. 4 saving for. S.I. No. 445 of 1997, reg. 25(1)(b)(iii)
S. 4 applied with modifications 14/2005, ss. 1(2), 40(b)
S. 4(2) substit. 38/2012, ss. 1(3), 6(a)
S. 4(2), saving for. 32/2003, ss. 1(2), 36
S. 4(2)(a) appl. 32/2003, ss. 1(2), 23(3)
S. 4(3) substit. 38/2012, ss. 1(3), 6(a)
S. 4(4) substit. 38/2012, ss. 1(3), 6(a)
S. 4(4A) ins. 38/2012, ss. 1(3), 6(a)
S. 4(5)(ii) am. 38/2012, ss. 1(3), 6(b)
S. 4(5)(iii) substit. 38/2012, ss. 1(3), 6(b)
S. 4(5)(iv) ins. 38/2012, ss. 1(3), 6(b)
S. 4(9) del. 38/2012, ss. 1(3), 6(c)
S. 4(9A) ins. 38/2012, ss. 1(3), 6(c)
S. 4(10) substit. 38/2012, ss. 1(3), 6(c)
S. 4(10)(c) substituted  19/1984, s. 1
S. 4(11) ins. 38/2012, ss. 1(3), 6(c)
S. 4A ins. 38/2012, ss. 1(3), 7
S. 5(1) substit. 38/2012, ss. 1(3), 8(a)
S. 5(1) am. 18/2002, ss. 1 (3), 58 (1) (a) (b) (2)
S. 5(1)(a) applied with modifications 14/2005, ss. 1 (2), 40 (c)
S. 5(1)(gg) am. 4/2003, s. 22
S. 5(1)(gg) ins. 18/2002, ss. 1 (3), 58 (1) (c), (2)
S. 5(1)(f), (g), am. with savings. 22/2002, ss. 1 (2), 12
S. 5(2) substit. 38/2012, ss. 1(3), 8(a)
S. 5(2A) ins. 38/2012, ss. 1(3), 8(a)
S. 5(3)(b) am. 38/2012, ss. 1(3), 8(b)
S. 6(2) substit. 38/2012, ss. 1(3), 9
S. 6(3) substit. 38/2012, ss. 1(3), 9
S. 6(3A) ins. 38/2012, ss. 1(3), 9
S. 6(4) substit. 38/2012, ss. 1(3), 9
S. 6 applied with modifications 14/2005, ss. 1 (2), 40 (d)
S. 7(1)(aa) ins. 38/2012, ss. 1(3), 10(a)
S. 7(1)(c) ins. 38/2012, ss. 1(3), 10(b)
S. 7(1)(d) ins. 38/2012, ss. 1(3), 10(b)
S. 7(1)(e) ins. 38/2012, ss. 1(3), 10(b)
S. 7 applied with modifications 14/2005,ss. 1 (2), 40 (e)
  22/2002, ss. 1 (2), 14, 15, 16
S. 8 applied with modifications 22/2002, ss. 1 (2), 14, 15, 16
S. 8(2)(a) am. 38/2012, ss. 1(3), 11
S. 8A ins. 38/2012, ss. 1(3), 12
S. 9 privacy of information under maintained S.I. No. 81 of 1989, regs. 2, 3
S. 9(2)(a) am. 38/2012, ss. 1(3), 13(a)
S. 9(2)(b) am. 38/2012, ss. 1(3), 13(a)
S. 9(2)(c) am. 38/2012, ss. 1(3), 13(b)
S. 9(2)(d) ins. 38/2012, ss. 1(3), 13(c)
S. 9 appl. with mods. 22/2002, ss. 1 (2), 14, 15, 16
S. 10(1), subsec. substit. 18/2005, ss. 2 (1), 20
S. 10(4) deleted 38/2012, ss. 1(3), 14
S. 10(4) delegation of ministerial powers ceased 4 July 2006 with transitional provisions 18/2005, ss. 2(1), 14, 15
S. 10(4) amended 33/2004, ss. 3, 4, 61 (1), 63, sch. 2, pt. 1
S. 10A inserted 38/2012, ss. 1(3), 15
Sch. 1 substituted 38/2012, ss. 1(3), 16 & schedule pt. 1
Sch. 1 amended 42/2004, ss. 3 (1), 75, sch. 6, pt. 8
Sch. 1 part I amended 35/2012, ss. 1(2), 28
  21/2011, s. 5 & sch. 2
  10/2011, ss. 1(2), 6 & 61
  17/2006, ss. 1(3), 23
  12/2006, ss. 2(1), 78(1), (2)
  33/2004, ss. 3, 4, 61 (1), 63, sch. 2, pt. 1
  29/2001, s. 18
  S.I. No. 332 of 1984, arts. 1(2), 2(a)
Sch. 1 references construed 42/2015, ss. 1(4), 13(3), 76(3)
  16/2015, ss. 1(2), 66(2), (3)
  1/1999, ss. 1 (2), 50 (2)
Sch. 1 part II amended 35/2012, ss. 1(2), 28
  21/2010, ss. 2, 167(a)
  19/2007, ss.1(2), 40(1) and sch. 3, pt. 1
  S.I. No. 66 of 1985, arts. 1(2), 2
  S.I. No. 332 of 1984, arts. 1(2), 2(b)
Sch. 1 part II para. (f)(ii) restricted S. I. No. 341 of 2013, reg. 4
Sch. 2 substit. 38/2012, ss. 1(3), 16 & schedule pt. 2
Sch. 2 transfer of functions 10/2010, ss. 5 (2), 8, & sch. 2, pt. 5
Sch. 2 amended 23/2014, ss. 1(3), 5(1), sch. 1 part 2 item 1(a)
  23/2014, ss. 1(3), 5(1), sch. 1 part 2 item 1(b)
  21/2010, ss. 2, 167(b)
  10/2010, ss. 5 (2), 8(3)(a), & sch. 2, pt. 5
  19/2007, ss.1(2), 40(1) and sch. 3, pt. 1
  42/2004, ss. 3 (1), 75, sch. 6, pt. 8
  12/2001, ss. 12 (1), 13 (2), sch., pt. 1
  32/2000, ss. 7 (1), 8 (2), sch.
  S.I. No. 69 of 1985, arts. 1(2), 2
Sch. 2 constr. of refs. 15/2019, s. 8(2)
  16/2015, ss. 1(2), 66(2), (3)
  29/2014, ss. 1(5), 8, 39
  27/2014, ss. 31(14), (15), 32(2), 33(4) 35(2)
  25/2014, ss. 1(3), 8, 44(2)
  5/2014, ss. 8(1), (2), 9(3)
  25/2007, ss. 1(3), 108(3)
Sch. 2 item 28 references construed 7/2018, ss. 9, 14(2), (4)
Sch. 2 para. 42 deleted 1/2024, ss. 1(2), 267(a)
Sch. 2 para. 44 substituted 1/2024, ss. 1(2), 267(b)
Sch. 2 paras. 111, 112 inserted 1/2024, ss. 1(2), 267(c)

SIs made under the Act

SectionSIs made under the Act
S. 1A(1) Ombudsman Act 1980 (Section 1A) (No. 2) Order 2015 (S.I. No. 300 of 2015)
S. 3(2) Ombudsman Superannuation (Amendment) Scheme 2003 (S.I. No. 167 of 2003)
  Ombudsman (Spouses' and Children's) Contributory Pension Scheme 1989 (S.I. No. 269 of 1989)
  Ombudsman Superannuation Scheme 1987 (S.I. No. 70 of 1987)
S. 4(10) Ombudsman Act 1980 (Section 4(10)) Order 2013 (S.I. No. 341 of 2013)
  Ombudsman Act1980 (Second Schedule) (Amendment) Order 1985 (S.I. No. 69 of 1985)
  Ombudsman Act 1980 (First Schedule) (Amendment) Order 1985 (S.I. No. 66 of 1985)
  Ombudsman Act (First Schedule) (Amendment) Order 1984 (S.I. No. 332 of 1984)
S. 12(2) Ombudsman Act, 1980 (Appointed Day) Order 1983 (S.I. No. 424 of 1983)