Dear Tina Irving,

I refer to your request for information which we received on 15 May 2023.

In considering your request for information, I have considered the
following legislation:

•                    The Public Services Ombudsman Act (Northern Ireland)
2016 (‘the 2016 Act’)

•                    The Freedom of Information Act 2000 (‘FOIA 2000’)

Your request for Information has been treated as a request for information
in accordance with section 1(1) The Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Your Request

You requested the following information:

“How does the Ombudsman uphold the Human Rights (Northern Ireland) Act
1998 and the wider UK Act, and the EU Act”

My Response

Your request refers to the Human Rights (Northern Ireland) Act 1998. This
Act does not exist, however there is a Human Rights Act 1998 (which
applies UK wide).

The information you have requested under this information request is
exempt under section 14(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.  Under
section 14(2) of FOIA 2000 where a public authority has previously
complied with a request, it is not obliged to comply with a subsequent
identical or substantially similar request. I would refer you to the
recent response given to you by NIPSO on 28 April 2023 under the request
referenced FOIA-20230002. The request referenced FOIA-20230002 is
substantially similar to this current request and answers the question of
how the Ombudsman upholds Human Rights legislation and other legislation
which applies in the United Kingdom.

Conclusion

I hope that you are satisfied with this response. If you are not satisfied
with this response to your request, you may ask for an internal review
within two calendar months of the date of this letter. You should contact:

Mr Andrew Ruston

Director

Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman’s Office

Progressive House

33 Wellington Place

Belfast

BT1 6HN

Email: [1][email address]

If you are not content with the outcome of any internal review requested
by you, you then have the right to apply directly to the Information
Commissioner for a decision. The Information Commissioner can be contacted
at:

Information Commissioner’s Office

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

WILMSLOW

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

Yours faithfully,

Legal Services Department

Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman's Office
Progressive House | 33 Wellington Place | Belfast | BT1 6HN
+ Email: [2][email address]
' Telephone: 0800 343424

References

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1. mailto:[email address]
2. mailto:[email address]