The members of the AOB take stock
closer look, as it became evident that the operational readiness of the Federal
Army is in danger due to financial cuts. I initiated ex-officio investigative
proceedings with regard to the operational readiness of equipment, the
weapons training of new recruits and the operational readiness of the
Eurofighter planes and the Black Hawk helicopters. The plan to swear in
new recruits only in the barracks instead of at public venues has now been
withdrawn.
As of 1 January 2014, the new Administrative Courts began their work.
For the AOB, this reform means that complaints regarding administrative
proceedings, which were ruled on by a court at the jurisdictional level, can
no longer be investigated as to content. In the first year after this reform, it
was important for me to observe how often I can no longer provide people
with assistance because a matter is no longer within my area of competence.
I determined that the number was kept within reasonable limits. Particularly
persons who were affected by administrative criminal proceedings in the area
of traffic matters increasingly took their cases to the Administrative Courts;
as a result, assistance by the AOB was no longer possible. However, I would
like to emphasise that the implementation of this reform of the jurisdiction
of the Administrative Courts, which had been discussed for decades, was the
right thing to do, as an improvement of the quality of the decisions and a
greater acceptance of court rulings can be expected.
Topics associated with schools are especially important for me, as a good
education for children and adolescents is the foundation to enable our society
and our nation governed by the rule of law to function. In this respect, my
attention is particularly on those children who must live with chronic illnesses
– some from the time of their birth. This is a phenomenon that is apparently
becoming more frequent. It is true that these children learn amazingly
quickly how to deal with the uncertainties of their illness, but they need
greater support from their teachers and school authorities. Here, courage
and the willingness to engage with the situation are required. Naturally, the
legislators and the authorities have to create the legal framework conditions
for this to occur. Only those teachers who feel that they are on a firm legal
foundation will be willing to fully support children with chronic illnesses. My
colleagues and I intend to draw attention to these problems in an event in
order to be able to initiate improvements.
Flooding is a natural disaster that requires increased attention. In a broadcast
in May 2014, together with the staff of the TV programme BürgerAnwalt, I
recapitulated what happened after the flooding in the Eferdinger Basin and
the major damages that occurred in June 2013 as well as the measures that
could result in an improvement of the situation in the future. Sometimes
people not only lose all their possessions but are uprooted by resettlement
plans. From my perspective, the objective must be to improve coverage
by natural disaster insurance, accompanied by legislative measures. I am
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