Section 34 - Power to issue guidance
135.Section 34(1) gives the Ombudsman power to issue guidance to listed authorities about good administrative practices. This will enable the Ombudsman to set bench marks for listed authorities.
136.Section 34(3) provides that listed authorities are required to have regard to the Ombudsman’s guidance under section 34 when discharging their functions. Listed authorities should not depart from that guidance unless there is good reason to do so. When discharging investigation functions under this Act, the Ombudsman can take into account whether or not and to what extent a listed authority has complied with the guidance issued under section 34.
