Freedom of Information Publication Scheme for the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (FSPO)
The FSPO has prepared this Publication Scheme in accordance with Section 8 of the Freedom of Information Act 2014. This scheme is designed to facilitate the proactive provision of information to make the delivery of our services and the operation of our organisation as transparent as possible.
The Office of the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman was established on 1 January 2018 under the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman Act 2017 ('the Act'). The Act dissolved the former FSO and the former OPO, with the staff from the two bodies joining the newly merged entity.
Under our governing legislation, our principal function is to investigate complaints against financial service or pension providers in a manner which is proportionate to the nature of the complaint. The Act provides discretion for us to undertake these investigations by informal means, by mediation, by formal investigation/oral hearing or by a combination of these means.
We are a complaints body. We provide an independent, fair and impartial service for consumers to resolve complaints about their financial service or pension provider.
Financial Services Providers and Pension Providers
The range of records held in the FSPO fall within the following broad categories:
In accordance with section 34(1) of the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman Act 2017, the FSPO holds records of the dissolved bodies of the Financial Service Ombudsman Bureau, the Council of the Financial Services Ombudsman Bureau and the Office of the Pensions Ombudsman.
We are an independent statutory body, whose statutory functions are set out in Section 12 of the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman Act 2017. Our overarching role is to investigate complaints against financial service or pension providers in an impartial manner which is proportionate to the nature of the complaint.
The Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman is appointed by the Minister for Finance and is independent in the exercise of his functions. The Ombudsman's term is for a period of five years. The Ombudsman and his FSPO are subject to the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies.
Part 4 of the FSPO Act sets out the role of the FSPO Council, which has two main areas of responsibility: firstly it is responsible under the legislation for setting the levy to be paid by financial service providers; and secondly it has certain oversight responsibilities in relation to the work of FSPO, including its responsibilities in relation to:
Our office is staffed by public servants who are bound by a Code of Standards and Behaviours, as well as corporate policies, procedures, circulars and office notices. As a public body, we are subject to a range of legislative obligations, including in relation to Freedom of Information and Data Protection.
We have put in place the appropriate corporate governance structures to ensure strategic leadership and management of the office and an effective system of internal control. These governance structures include a Finance Committee, an Audit and Risk Committee, a risk management system, and both an internal and external audit function. In addition, the FSPO is subject to audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General and scrutiny by the Houses of the Oireachtas.
The members of the Council are appointed by the Minister of Finance, through an open competition managed by the Public Appointments Service. The current Members of the Council are:
| Maeve Dineen (Chairman) | Corporate Communications Consultant and formerly Business Editor of Irish Independent |
| Valerie Bowens | Consultant and Non-Executive Director |
| Ann Duffy | Independent Non-Executive Director / former Director Corporate Affairs at Fyffes plc |
| Don Gallagher | Experienced CEO and Director |
| Mick McAteer | Experienced consumer and public interest advocate |
| Ken Murnaghan | Member of the Management Board of Finance Ireland Limited |
Together with our Council, staff and stakeholders we published our 4-year Strategic Plan, "Connecting and Engaging" in November 2021.
The archived reports for the Financial Services Ombudsman and the Pensions Ombudsman can be found here.
Liam Sloyan
Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman
MaryRose McGovern
Deputy Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman
Diarmuid Byrne
Director of Dispute Resolution Services
Tara McDermott
Director of Customer Operations and Information Management
Vacancy
Director of Corporate and Communication Services
Úna Gately
Director of Investigation Services
Download the organisation chart
Staff salary ranges are in accordance with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Circular 16/2018: Application of 1 October 2018 Pay Adjustments under the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017. The table below includes the number of staff members in receipt of salaries in excess of €60,000. Please note these figures are based on those of the FSPO at 31 December 2022.
| Range | Number of employees | |
|---|---|---|
| From | To | as of 31 December 2022 |
| €60,000 - | €69,999 | 1 |
| €70,000 - | €79,999 | 5 |
| €80,000 - | €89,999 | 3 |
| €90,000 - | €99,999 | 2 |
| €100,000 - | €109,999 | 1 |
| €110,000 - | €119,999 | 2 |
| €120,000 - | €129,999 | 1 |
| €130,000 - | €139,999 | 1 |
| €140,000 - | €149,999 | - |
| €150,000 - | €159,999 | - |
| €160,000 - | €169,999 | - |
| €170,000 - | €179,999 | 1 |
Note: For the purposes of this disclosure, short-term employee benefits in relation to services rendered during the reporting period include salary, overtime allowances and other payments made on behalf of the employee, but excluding employer's PRSI and pension contributions.
Memorandum of Understanding
Customer Charter
Codes and Guidelines
Address
Lincoln House, Lincoln Place, Dublin D02 VH29
Telephone Number
+353 (1) 5677000
Email
info@fspo.ie
Website
https://www.fspo.ie
We provide an independent, fair and impartial service for consumers to resolve complaints about their financial service or pension provider.
We will deal with complaints informally at first by talking to the complainant about their complaint and understanding it from their point of view and we will talk to the provider.
We aim to help the complainant and provider to reach an agreement through mediation. Mediation is informal and confidential. It often takes place over the phone.
Where these early interventions do not resolve the dispute, both parties will continue to have the option of having their complaint independently adjudicated and a legally binding decision issued, which can only be appealed to the High Court. More information on our complaint process can be found here.
Before making a complaint to the FSPO, a complainant should give the provider a chance to sort out the problem. A complainant should contact the provider and make a complaint to it directly and the provider should deal with the complaint through its complaint handling process. This is called an internal dispute resolution process (IDR process).
Complaints to the FSPO should generally be made in writing (post or email), or by using our online complaint form. If a person has a disability and/or needs help to use the services of the Ombudsman, they can contact us and we will endeavour to facilitate them. Complainants can also visit the office of the FSPO in person to make their complaint. Third parties can complain on behalf of complainants provided appropriate consent is granted.
There is no fee for making a complaint to the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman.
If a complainant is not satisfied, they can appeal to the High Court against our legally binding decision (within 35 days of the decision). The provider also has the right to appeal our decision.
Although our services are free, remember that submitting an appeal to the High Court is not. If a complainant appeals our decision and they are not successful, they may have to pay all the legal costs.
The FSPO is funded by levies on financial services providers and by a government grant.
The levy amounts are set by the FSPO Council, with the consent of the Minister for Finance. The amount of the government grant is approved by the Minister for Finance. Our publication, " Understanding the Financial Services Industry Levy " provides information on how the levy on the financial services industry is determined, calculated and collected.
All major capital expenditure is budgeted for and in alignment with the implementation of the Strategic Plan. The FSPO's procurement policy underpins all procurement activities undertaken, and ensures compliance with government circulars and guidelines issued by the Office of Government Procurement.
Council members are paid Council fees quarterly in arrears. The total paid in fees in 2021 is indicated in the table below.
| Council | Fees | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Meetings | 7 | |
| Maeve Dineen (Chairperson) | 7 | €21,600 |
| Valerie Bowens | 7 | €12,600 |
| Don Gallagher | 7 | €12,600 |
| Dermott Jewell | 7 | €12,600 |
| Ken Murnaghan | 7 | €12,600 |
| Deborah Reidy | 7 | €12,600 |
| Elizabeth Walsh | 7 | €12,600 |
The procurement policy of the FSPO centres on the principles of competitive tendering and is in accordance with the OGP Public Procurement Guidelines for Goods and Services. Our procurement policy provides that all procurement decisions and purchases made by the FSPO, supported by the FSPO Council, are carried out in accordance and in full compliance with all national legislation, EU Directives, Office of Government Procurement guidelines, Department of Finance and Department of Public Expenditure & Reform Circulars and the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies.
All procurement must reflect a consistent approach to purchasing decisions and at all times represent Value for Money for the FSPO.
Details of current tender competitions over €50,000 are available on www.etenders.gov.ie
Details in the FOI disclosure log are in relation to non-personal requests only which have been handled by the FSPO.
FOI Disclosure Log 2021
FOI Disclosure Log 2020
FOI Disclosure Log 2019
FOI Disclosure Log 2018
The Freedom of Information Act 2014 was enacted on 14 October 2014 and repeals the 1997 and 2003 Acts.
Freedom of Information legislation is applicable to the FSPO, however, Section 76 of the FSPO Act includes an amendment to the Freedom of Information Act 2014, and provides that the FOI Act does not apply in relation to "records concerning the mediation, investigation or adjudication of a complaint carried out by the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman".
The FOI Act 2014 provides the following statutory rights:
The Freedom of Information Act asserts the right of members of the public to obtain access to official information to the greatest extent possible, consistent with the public interest and the right to privacy of individuals.
We have a dedicated information section, which is available to assist you with general queries, requests for information and publications. A considerable amount of material is already made available to the public through our website, publications and in response to oral and written enquiries.
If the information you require is not readily available here is how to make a request to us:
We will acknowledge your request within 2 weeks and, in most cases, respond within 4 weeks. If responding to your query requires us to involve a third party, we may require additional time to process your request.
The FOI Act is intended to allow access to information held by public bodies which is not routinely available by other means subject to certain exemptions, procedures and time limits. The following information about the activities and functions of the FSPO is available without the need to use the FOI Act.
