Brian Stanley (Laois, Sinn Fein)
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103. To ask the Minister for Finance the status of a company (details supplied) that is located here, trading, paying all its taxes, has its certificate of incorporation and has business permission, but is unable to avail of banking services as the directors are originally from Syria but no longer reside there. [8233/16]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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Firstly, let me make clear that the banks in Ireland are independent institutions and I, as Minister for Finance, have no role in operational matters in the banks including decisions in relation to the granting of banking services.

If the company has made a formal complaint to the financial service provider in question about the refusal to provide banking services as the directors are from Syria and is not satisfied with the outcome, it may be possible to refer the matter to the Financial Services Ombudsman.

The Financial Services Ombudsman investigates, in an impartial and independent manner, complaints from individual customers and small businesses who have unresolved disputes with financial service providers which are regulated by the Central Bank.  All personal customers, unincorporated bodies, charities, clubs, partnerships, trusts, and limited companies with a turnover of €3,000,000 or less can complain to the Ombudsman.

Investigations by the Financial Services Ombudsman are free of charge to the customer.