{{short description|Irish author and journalist, national and EU Ombudsman}} {{Use Hiberno-English|date=May 2015}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = | image = Emily O'Reilly, 2015 (cropped).jpg | caption = O'Reilly in 2015 | office = [[European Ombudsman]] | term_start = 1 October 2013 | term_end = 31 December 2024 | predecessor = [[Nikiforos Diamandouros]] | successor = [[Teresa Anjinho]] | office1 = [[Ombudsman (Ireland)|Irish Ombudsman]] | term_start1 = 1 June 2003 | term_end1 = 29 September 2013 | predecessor1 = [[Kevin Murphy (ombudsman)|Kevin Murphy]] | successor1 = [[Peter Tyndall]] | office2 = [[Information Commissioner (Ireland)|Information Commissioner]] | term_start2 = 1 June 2003 | term_end2 = 29 September 2013 | predecessor2 = [[Kevin Murphy (ombudsman)|Kevin Murphy]] | successor2 = [[Peter Tyndall]] | birth_date = <!-- {{Birth date and age|df=yes|YYYY|MM|DD}} or {{Birth-date and age|Month DD, YYYY}} --> | birth_place = | citizenship = | party = | alma_mater = | website = }}
'''Emily O'Reilly''' is an author and former journalist and broadcaster who became [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]'s first female [[Ombudsman (Ireland)|Ombudsman]] in [[2003 in politics|2003]], succeeding [[Kevin Murphy (ombudsman)|Kevin Murphy]].<ref>{{cite web |title=History of the Office of the Ombudsman |url=https://www.ombudsman.ie/about-us/who-we-are/history-of-the-office-of/ |website=Office of the Ombudsman |access-date=25 December 2023 |archive-date=25 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231225083722/https://www.ombudsman.ie/about-us/who-we-are/history-of-the-office-of/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> On 3 July 2013, she was voted [[European Ombudsman]] by the European Parliament.<ref name=2013-vote>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thejournal.ie/emily-oreilly-eu-ombudsman-976460-Jul2013/|title=Next stop Strasbourg: Emily O'Reilly wins vote to become new EU Ombudsman|last=Bohan|first=Christine|date=3 July 2013|work=[[TheJournal.ie]]|access-date=2018-09-12|language=en}}</ref> She was re-elected in 2014<ref name=2014-vote>{{Cite news|url=https://www.rte.ie/news/2014/1216/667172-emily-oreilly/|title=O'Reilly re-elected as European Ombudsman|date=2014-12-16|work=RTE.ie|access-date=2018-09-12|language=en}}</ref> and in 2019,<ref name=2019-vote>{{Cite news|url=https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20191212IPR68912/emily-o-reilly-re-elected-european-ombudsman|title=Emily O'Reilly re-elected European Ombudsman|date=2019-12-18|work=European Parliament press room|access-date=2020-01-09|language=en}}</ref> in each case for a mandate of five more years. She was educated at [[University College Dublin]], [[Trinity College Dublin]], and [[Harvard University]], where she was awarded a [[Nieman Fellowship]] in journalism.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Ombudsman's Office/Previous Office Holders|url=https://www.ombudsman.gov.ie/en/About-Us/The-Ombudsman%27s-Office/Previous-Office-Holders/Emily-O-Reilly/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151224204218/http://www.ombudsman.gov.ie/en/about-us/the-ombudsman%27s-office/previous-office-holders/emily-o-reilly/|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 December 2015|publisher=The Office of the Ombudsman Ireland|access-date=13 July 2016}}</ref>
==Early life== O'Reilly is from [[Tullamore]], [[County Offaly]] and her family moved to Dublin when she was 8 years old.<ref>{{cite web |title=Emily O'Reilly: It never crossed my mind that I wouldn't have a career |url=https://www.farmersjournal.ie/life/features/emily-oreilly-it-never-crossed-my-mind-that-i-wouldnt-have-a-career-156953 |website=www.farmersjournal.ie |access-date=2 January 2025 |language=en}}</ref>
==Journalism== She began her career as a journalist in the 1970s. She held senior positions with ''[[The Irish Press]]'' and the ''[[Sunday Tribune]]'', as well as serving as a political columnist at ''[[The Sunday Times (UK)|The Sunday Times]]'' and as the Political Editor of ''[[The Sunday Business Post]]''.{{citation needed|date=September 2018}} In 1991 she made an extended appearance on the British television discussion programme ''[[After Dark (TV series)|After Dark]]'', alongside among others [[Patrick Cosgrave]], [[J. P. Donleavy]], [[David Norris (politician)|David Norris]] and [[Francis Stuart]].
In 1998, she became the editor of ''[[Magill]]'' magazine. She resigned in September 1999 when the magazine's sister publication, ''In Dublin'', was banned by the Censorship of Publications Appeal Board for advertising brothels and prostitution services.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer/1999/08/18/ihead_89.htm|title=Prostitution crackdown to focus on pimps and brothel owners|last=Keane|first=Conor|date=18 August 1999|website=The Examiner – News From Ireland|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070311153035/http://archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer/1999/08/18/ihead_89.htm|archive-date=2007-03-11|access-date=2018-09-12}}</ref> O'Reilly was also a broadcaster on [[RTÉ]] and [[Today FM]].{{citation needed|date=September 2018}}
O'Reilly is the author of three books: ''Candidate: The Truth Behind the Presidential Campaign'' (1991), about [[President of Ireland]] [[Mary Robinson]]; ''Masterminds of the Right'' (1992) about [[Catholic Church and politics|political Catholicism]] in Ireland; and a biography, ''[[Veronica Guerin]]'' (1998).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/86191.stm|title=The second fall of Veronica Guerin|last=Allen|first=Liz|date=6 May 1998|website=BBC News|access-date=2018-09-12}}</ref>
In the course of her journalistic career, she won two awards: Journalist of the Year and Woman Journalist of the Year.<ref>{{Cite web| title=Letter of application for the position of European Ombudsman and solemn declaration | url=https://www.europarl.europa.eu/cmsdata/195732/oreilly_en.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809141745/https://www.europarl.europa.eu/cmsdata/195732/oreilly_en.pdf | archive-date=2020-08-09}}</ref>
==Irish Ombudsman and Information Commissioner== [[Image:Emily O’Reilly Senate of Poland.JPG|thumb|left|O'Reilly before the [[Senate of Poland|Polish Senate]] in 2014]]
In April 2003, she was proposed as the Irish [[Ombudsman (Ireland)|Ombudsman]] and [[Information Commissioner (Ireland)|Information Commissioner]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Appointment of Ombudsman: Motion – Dáil Éireann (29th Dáil) – Vol. 565 No. 2 |url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2003-04-10/4/ |website=Houses of the Oireachtas |date=10 April 2003}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Appointment of Information Commissioner: Motion – Dáil Éireann (29th Dáil) – Vol. 565 No. 2 |url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2003-04-10/5/ |website=Houses of the Oireachtas |date=10 April 2003}}</ref> On 1 June 2003, she received her [[warrant of appointment]] from the [[President of Ireland]], [[Mary McAleese]], at [[Áras an Uachtaráin]].<ref>{{cite journal |title=Ceapachán an Choimisinéara Faisnéise / Ceapachán an Ombudsman |journal=[[Iris Oifigiúil]] |date=3 June 2003 |url=https://www.irisoifigiuil.ie/archive/2003/june/2003%2006%2003%20IO%20Issue.pdf#page=4 |volume=2003 |issue=44 |page=478}}</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070312023906/http://www.ombudsman.gov.ie/en/AboutUs/EmilyOReillyProfile/index.htm Profile on Irish Ombudsman website]</ref> She said of her job title, "I will be an ombudswoman but will have no difficulty in being referred to as either".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/emily-o-reilly-to-be-appointed-as-state-s-next-ombudsman-1.353391|title=Emily O'Reilly to be appointed as State's next Ombudsman|last=Brennock|first=Mark|date=26 March 2003|newspaper=[[The Irish Times]]|access-date=2018-09-12}}</ref>
In 2007, as Information Commissioner, she was appointed to the additional position of Commissioner for Environmental Information under the Access to Information on the Environment Regulations.<ref>{{cite ISB|type=si|year=2007|num=133|title=European Communities (Access to Information on the Environment) Regulations 2007|provision=Reg. 12(2)|date=28 March 2007}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ocei.gov.ie/en/AboutUs/index.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425062811/http://www.ocei.gov.ie/en/AboutUs/index.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-04-25|title=About Us, Office of the Commissioner for Environmental Information, Ireland|date=2012-04-25|access-date=2018-09-12}}</ref> She was appointed for a second term in 2009.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Ceapachán an Choimisinéara Faisnéise / Ceapachán an Ombudsman |journal=Iris Oifigiúil |url=https://www.irisoifigiuil.ie/archive/2009/june/Ir050609.PDF |date=5 June 2009 |volume=2009 |issue=45 |page=732}}</ref>
In December 2013, she resigned from these positions and was succeeded by [[Peter Tyndall]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.rte.ie/news/2013/1008/479114-ombudsman/|title=Peter Tyndall to succeed O'Reilly as Ombudsman|date=2013-10-08|work=RTÉ|access-date=2018-09-12|language=en}}</ref>
===Transparency and accountability of Irish public bodies=== [[File:Emily O’Reilly re-elected European Ombudsman (49238388668).jpg|thumb|O'Reilly and husband Stephen Ryan (right) in 2019]]
In a speech delivered in Dublin on 20 June 2006 to the [[Institute of Public Administration (Ireland)|Institute of Public Administration]], O'Reilly criticised "some service providers, both public and private" for retreating from dealing personally with the public through the use of call centres and the Internet. She mentioned the Irish [[Revenue Commissioners]] in this context, pointing out that a significant proportion of the clients of these bodies "do not have access to the web" and therefore the level of personal contact is inadequate as a consequence.<ref name=speech /> She also believed that public access to information under the [[Freedom of information laws by country#Ireland|Freedom of Information Act]] had been "excessively curtailed", often in order to protect sectional interests, such as the performance of schools.<ref name=speech>{{cite web |url=http://archive.ombudsman.gov.ie/en/SpeechesArticlesandPresentations/Ombudsmansspeeches/Name,5272,en.htm |title=Ombudsman's Speeches: Speech at the Launch of the Diploma in Management of Modern Public Service Delivery (20.06.2006) |last1=O'Reilly |first1=Emma |date=20 June 2006 |website=Office of the Ombudsman |access-date=30 January 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201213333/http://archive.ombudsman.gov.ie/en/SpeechesArticlesandPresentations/Ombudsmansspeeches/Name%2C5272%2Cen.htm |archive-date=1 February 2014 }}</ref> She advised that the Act should be extended to include a number of public bodies previously exempted from the law, including the [[Garda Síochána]], the [[Central Bank of Ireland]] and the [[National Asset Management Agency]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thejournal.ie/information-commissioner-wants-foi-legislation-extended-131091-May2011/ |title=Information Commissioner wants FOI legislation extended |last1=Wade |first1=Jennifer |date=4 May 2011 |website=[[theJournal.ie]] |access-date=30 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201200309/http://www.thejournal.ie/information-commissioner-wants-foi-legislation-extended-131091-May2011/ |archive-date=1 February 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and that fees charged were a further inhibitor.<ref name=speech />
==European Ombudsman== O'Reilly was appointed [[European Ombudsman]] by the [[European Parliament]] in 2013, and re-appointed in 2014 and 2019. O'Reilly's third and final term ended in 2024 <ref>{{cite web | title=Emily O'Reilly: CURRICULUM VITAE |date= 18 September 2019 |website=European Ombudsman | url=https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/emily-oreilly/biography/en |access-date=1 September 2021}}</ref> when she was succeeded by [[Teresa Anjinho]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=European Ombudsman |url=https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/news-document/en/197283 |access-date=2024-12-21 |website=www.ombudsman.europa.eu}}</ref>
==Bibliography== * {{cite book|title=[[Veronica Guerin]] |publisher=Vintage |date=1998 |isbn=0-09-976151-3}} * {{cite book|title=Candidate: The Truth Behind the Presidential Campaign |publisher=Attic Press |date=1991 |isbn=1-85594-021-3}} * {{cite book|title=Masterminds of the Right |publisher=Attic Press |date=1992 |isbn=1-85594-044-2}}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category-inline}}
{{Ombudsman of Ireland}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Oreilly, Emily}} [[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Alumni of Trinity College Dublin]] [[Category:Alumni of University College Dublin]] [[Category:Irish magazine editors]] [[Category:Irish non-fiction writers]] [[Category:Irish women non-fiction writers]] [[Category:21st-century Irish women journalists]] [[Category:Magill people]] [[Category:Nieman Fellows]] [[Category:Ombudsmen in the European Union]] [[Category:Ombudsmen in the Republic of Ireland]] [[Category:RTÉ people]] [[Category:Sunday Tribune people]] [[Category:The Irish Press people]] [[Category:The Irish Times people]] [[Category:Business Post people]] [[Category:Today FM presenters]] [[Category:20th-century Irish people]] [[Category:21st-century Irish people]] [[Category:2003 in Ireland]] [[Category:Irish women editors]] [[Category:Irish women magazine editors]] [[Category:Irish women radio presenters]] [[Category:Place of birth missing (living people)]]