Ombudsman Emily O’Reilly has announced the appointment of a new director general to her office. Bernadette McNally has worked as a senior investigator with the Ombudsman’s Office for three years before her appointment.
She will work for the Office of the Ombudsman and Information Commissioner and the Secretariat to the Standards in Public Office Commission.
From Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan, Ms McNally has bachelor and masters of science degrees from Trinity College Dublin.
She was chief therapist adviser at the Department of Health from 2004 until 2008.
She previously worked as a frontline health professional, and was a director of therapy and social work services in St James’s Hospital, Dublin.
She replaces Pat Whelan as director general.
The Ombudsman’s Office investigates administrative complaints about government departments, the Health Service Executive, local authorities and An Post.