– 1 case (3,8%), the Ombudsman issued suggestions or amendments to the entity addressed or identified irregularities in their performance, according to article 33 of the Ombudsman Statute; – 3 cases (11,5%) complainants were referred to other especially competent entities, or to other appropriate means to assert their positions, according to article 32.º of the Ombudsman Statute; – 14 cases (53,8%) the complaint was dismissed as unfounded; – 1 case (3,8%) there was withdrawal of the complaint. Workers’ rights continued to be the main issue of the complaints that were received, maintaining a tendency registered in previous years (33%). Questions about public employment, presented by individuals as well as unions, were the most significant part of the procedures opened. In those complaints, career issues, irregularities on recruitment procedures, remuneration supplements, as well as work regimes were the most covered topics. In second place, representing 15 % of all procedures opened, were subjects related with justice administration, police action and road matters. In third place, it is possible to find the questions concerning taxation and economic activity (four of the procedures were focused on the IRS – personal income tax), as well as consumption (four cases), which represent 13% of all the procedures opened. Other relevant areas were the right to environment and life quality. Among these it is important to emphasize the urbanism and land planning questions, as well as environment protection (11%). Thereafter are issues related with the social rights, essentially the payment of social benefits (9%). Finally, the wider category represented on the graph in analysis (19%) includes several issues related with the right to education (v.g., university fees), right to health (clinical practice, medical care and patients transportation) and also prisoners’ rights. Besides three collective complaints, 83 citizens demanded the Ombusdman intervention (56 of the masculine gender and 27 of the female gender). Seven of the procedures opened originated in complaints submitted by unions. 18 of the 93 complaints were made in person, at the Office at the Autonomous Region of Azores. Because of that, at this point, it is important to mention the permanent availability and institutional collaboration of the Representative of the Republic for the Autonomous Region of the Azores. Of the remaining, 45 were submitted by postal service and 30 by email. As it turns out of the graph below, 76 claims came from São Miguel (38) and Terceira (38) Islands, followed by Faial (7), Pico (4) Flores (3) and Santa Maria (1). Two complaints were received without any identification of their geographic origin. 68 |