We have previously commented on legislation introduced as part of the process to amalgamate the offices of the Financial Services Ombudsman and the Pensions Ombudsman (see post of 27 May 2016 below). The decision to amalgamate the offices was made by the Government in 2013 following a recommendation from the OECD. Two draft bills (The
Statutory Instrument No.229 of 2016, signed by the Minister for Social Protection on 5 May, represents another step towards the amalgamation of the offices of the Financial Services Ombudsman and the Pensions Ombudsman. The Government made the decision to merge the two agencies in May 2013, after a recommendation from the OECD.
Continue Reading Pensions Act amended to allow Financial Services Ombudsman to hold the office of Pensions Ombudsman
The Office of the Pensions Ombudsman was first established in 2003 under the Pensions (Amendment) Act, 2002. According to the Ombudsman’s most recent annual report, over the past 10 years the Office has received approximately 10,000 queries and opened over 5,000 detailed complaint files. In 2012 alone, 601 new complaint files were opened representing an increase of 24% on the files opened in 2011.
Under the Pensions Act, 1990, any party who disagrees or disputes the Ombudsman’s determination of the investigation is entitled to bring an appeal to the High Court within 21 days of the determination. In line with the increase in the number of complaints being made to the Ombudsman, we are also seeing an increase in the number of appeals being brought to the High Court against his determinations. Most recently the trustees of the Irish Blood Transfusion Service Superannuation Fund appealed a determination of the Ombudsman in the case of Willis & Ors v Pensions Ombudsman and anor.
In that case, the President of the High Court, Mr Justice Kearns, made the following points:Continue Reading The Pensions Ombudsman – Appeals to the High Court