Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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137. To ask the Minister for Finance his plans to empower the Financial Services Ombudsman to further represent the interests of consumers, particularly in the field of mortgage arrears; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16504/14]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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Firstly, I must point out that the Financial Services Ombudsman is independent in the performance of his statutory functions and it would not be appropriate for me to comment on how he performs his duties or to comment on his findings. The Financial Services Ombudsman  was set up to adjudicate on unresolved disputes between complainants and financial service providers in an independent and impartial manner.  I have no plans to grant the Financial Services Ombudsman powers to further represent the interest of consumers. Such action would be in conflict with his statutory role as set out under the Act. The Ombudsman must perform his duties in an impartial way.