Commissioner for Older People Act (Northern Ireland) 2011

Assistance with complaints to relevant authorities

7.—(1) The Commissioner may provide assistance (including financial assistance) to an older person in making a complaint to a relevant authority that the interests of the older person have been adversely affected by any action taken by that or another relevant authority.

(2) The Commissioner may act on behalf of an older person in—

(a) making such a complaint to a relevant authority; and

(b) any investigation or other proceedings conducted by that authority pursuant to the complaint.

(3) In deciding whether to provide assistance to an older person under subsection (1), the Commissioner may take account of the financial or other assistance available to the older person in relation to the complaint.

(4) In deciding whether to take action on behalf of an older person under subsection (2), the Commissioner may take account of whether there is any other person or body likely to take such action.

(5) Where the making of a complaint to a relevant authority is regulated by a statutory provision, nothing in this section authorises a complaint to be made to that authority otherwise than in accordance with that provision.

(6) For the purposes of this section, “relevant authority” also includes the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Complaints, the Assembly Ombudsman for Northern Ireland, the Information Commissioner, the Pensions Ombudsman and the Northern Ireland Office.