Ombudsman for the Defence Forces to Continue in Role for a Further 3 years

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence, Mr. Simon Coveney, TD, has announced that the current Ombudsman for the Defence Forces, Mr. Alan Mahon, is to continue in his role for a further 3 years.

Alan Mahon was appointed as the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces on the 6 July 2018, for a period of 3 years, following an open competition run by the Public Appointments Service.

The Government has obtained approval from the President to reappoint Mr. Mahon in his role until 6 July 2024.

Minister Coveney today, congratulated Mr. Mahon on his reappointment, saying \”I am delighted that Alan will remain as Ombudsman for the Defence Forces for a further 3 years and acknowledge with thanks, his continued commitment to this role as an office of independent external review for both serving, and former members of the Defence Forces\”.

Justice Mahon resides in Dublin and is originally from Tullamore, Co. Offaly. He was called to the Bar in 1976, became a Senior Counsel in 1988 and was appointed a Circuit Court Judge in 2002. He chaired The Tribunal of Inquiry into Certain Planning Matters and Payments (the Mahon Tribunal) from 2003, and which was originally established in 1997.

In October 2014, Mr. Justice Mahon was appointed a Judge of the newly established Court of Appeal. He was appointed Ombudsman for the Defence Forces for a three year term on 6 July 2018. His re-appointment, announced today, will run until 5 July 2024.

The role and functions of the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces are enshrined in the Ombudsman (Defence Forces) Act, 2004. Under the provisions of the Act, the Ombudsman is independent in the performance of his or her functions. The 2004 Act also provides for the reappointment of the Ombudsman, provided the term does not exceed 7 years.