Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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60. To ask the Minister for Finance if the case of persons (details supplied) in County Meath, who may have been mis-sold financial products in recent years, can be re-examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22557/15]

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 those duties or to intervene in an individual's complaint.

The Financial Services Ombudsman Bureau was established under the Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland Act 2004. This legislation provides the Financial Services Ombudsman with various powers in order to determine jurisdiction on a complaint. Included in this is a statutory timeframe.

Section 57BX (3)(b) provides: "A consumer is not entitled to make a complaint if the conduct complained of occurred more than 6 years before the complaint is made."  Therefore, the legislation prohibits the Financial Services Ombudsman from examining any aspect of a complaint where the conduct being complained of occurred more than 6 years prior to the receipt of the complaint in his Office.