Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Act 2006

Functions of Pensions Ombudsman.

43.— Section 131 of the Principal Act is amended by substituting the following for subsection (6):

“(6) (a) The Pensions Ombudsman shall not investigate or determine a complaint or dispute unless the procedures referred to in section 132 have been resorted to and exhausted in accordance with their terms.

(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), the Pensions Ombudsman may investigate or determine a complaint or dispute not relating to a public authority scheme or to a statutory scheme to which section 776 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 applies provided he is satisfied that—

(i) the complaint or dispute is of such a nature that the operation of the procedures referred to in paragraph (a) is inappropriate in the circumstances of the case, and

(ii) it is reasonable in the circumstances that he should investigate and determine the complaint or dispute.

(6A) In this section ‘public authority scheme’ has the same meaning as in the Pensions Ombudsman Regulations 2003 ( S.I. No. 397 of 2003 ).”.