Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Over the ten years of its existence, the Office of the Pensions Ombudsman has received around 12,000 queries and opened over 5,500 detailed investigation files in relation to occupational pension scheme matters. The Pensions Ombudsman continuously monitors the response time to queries regarding pension complaints and has done so since the establishment of the Office. The Pensions Ombudsman has been proactive in introducing streamlined procedures aimed at reducing the number of cases which go to a full investigation. This involves seeking to resolve cases by means of mediation between the parties with a view to producing a satisfactory outcome. However, due to the complexity of many of the issues raised by clients in relation to their pension complaints, a detailed investigation is often required and this in turn adds to the time it takes to arrive at a Final Determination by the Pensions Ombudsman. The emphasis of the Pensions Ombudsman continues to be on resolving older cases and shortening the duration of investigations. The Pensions Ombudsman is an independent and impartial statutory officer who exercises his functions independently of Government and of the pensions industry. The Office of the Pensions Ombudsman is an agency under the aegis of my Department.