Speaking on behalf of the bill's sponsor, the government, Deputy Justice Minister Sandra Artukovic Kunst said retaining those three offices was important because of citizens' needs.
She said there were no objections that combining those three offices into one position was economically justified, and labelled as inappropriate the objection that the bill was an attempt to retain the three positions, saying the work of those ombudsmen was recognised both at home and abroad and that they must remain independent.
Artukovic Kunst recalled that the 2011 ombudsman law was not in force because the Constitutional Court found that it was not adopted with the required majority, and said the bill expanded the ombudsman's constitutional powers and strengthened his proactive role.
She said the ombudsman was authorised by parliament to promote and protect human rights and freedoms and that parliament elected him to an eight-year term. He is also in charge of monitoring the alignment of Croatian laws and regulations with constitutional provisions and international legal acts which are part of Croatia's legal order.
The bill also envisages linking the Human Rights Centre with the Ombudsman's Office and setting up the Ombudsman's Human Rights Council.
The bill is aimed at improving the protection of citizens' fundamental rights given the constitutional changes of 2010 which granted the ombudsman immunity and independence of work.