Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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84. To ask the Minister for Finance the amount expended by the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman on external consultants and legal service providers in 2017 and to date in 2018, in tabular form; the consultants and legal providers that provided such services; the amount of fees paid to each such body to date in each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40528/18]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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Firstly, I must point out that the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (FSPO) is independent in the performance of his statutory functions. I have no role in the day to day workings of his office.

As the Deputy will be aware the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman was established on 1 January 2018 under the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman Act 2017. The figures provided by the Ombudsman below in respect to 2017 relate to the Financial Services Ombudsman Bureau.

The table below outlines the expenditure on consultancy and legal firms. The figure for 2018 includes the latest available data to June 2018. It should be noted that all figures below are as yet unaudited.