Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

I move amendment No. 46:

In page 38, to delete lines 3 to 9 and substitute the following:

"57BS.—(1) Within 3 months after the end of each financial year, the Financial Services Ombudsman shall publish a report containing——

(a) a summary of all complaints made to that Ombudsman during the preceding financial year and of the results of the investigations into those complaints, and

(b) a review of trends and patterns in the making of complaints to that Ombudsman.".

This amendment arises from an amendment tabled by Deputy Boyle on Committee Stage which he tabled again as amendment No. 45. In fact, it reflects the amendment Deputy Boyle is not in a position to move. Amendment No. 46 provides that the ombudsman's report on complaints received must include a review of trends and patterns in complaints as well as a summary of those complaints. I have not adopted Deputy Boyle's amendment in its entirety as it is not the ombudsman's role to provide an overall commentary on the state of financial consumer protection. That is a function of the regulatory authority. I have, however, sought to address the concerns expressed by the Deputy.

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