Vacation of office of Financial Services Ombudsman and Deputy Financial Services Ombudsman.

1.—(1) A person ceases to hold office as the Financial Services Ombudsman or as a Deputy Financial Services Ombudsman if the person—

(a) dies, or

(b) completes a term of office and is not reappointed, or

(c) resigns the office by notice in writing addressed to the Council, or

(d) is, with the person’s consent, nominated as a candidate for election as a member of either House of the Oireachtas, or

(e) is, with the person’s consent, nominated as a candidate for election as a member of the European Parliament or to fill a vacancy in the membership of that Parliament, or

(f) is, with the person’s consent, nominated as a candidate for election as a member of a local authority, or

(g) is adjudged bankrupt (either in the State or elsewhere) or enters into a composition with the person’s creditors, or

(h) becomes physically or mentally incapable of performing the duties of Financial Services Ombudsman or Deputy Financial Services Ombudsman, or

(i) is convicted of an offence (either in the State or elsewhere) and sentenced to serve a term of imprisonment for the offence, or

(j) is removed from office under subparagraph (2).

(2) The Council may remove the Financial Services Ombudsman or a Deputy Financial Services Ombudsman from office—

(a) for proven misconduct or incompetence, or

(b) if the removal appears to the Council to be necessary for the effective performance of the functions of the office concerned.

Remuneration and conditions of service of Financial Services Ombudsman and Deputy Financial Services Ombudsman.

2.—(1) The Financial Services Ombudsman and each Deputy Financial Services Ombudsman is entitled to be paid such remuneration and allowances (including travel and subsistence allowances) as the Council decides.

(2) A decision of the Council under this paragraph does not take effect until approved by the Minister.

Financial Services Ombudsman and Deputy Financial Services Ombudsman not to engage in paid employment without approval.

3.—Neither the Financial Services Ombudsman nor a Deputy Financial Services Ombudsman may engage in paid employment outside the duties of the office unless the Council approves the employment.

Superannuation schemes for the benefit of Financial Services Ombudsman and Deputy Financial Services Ombudsmen.

4.—(1) In this paragraph—

"superannuation scheme" means a superannuation scheme prepared under subparagraph (2) or (4), and if the scheme is amended in accordance with this paragraph, means the scheme as amended;

"beneficiary" means the Financial Services Ombudsman or a Deputy Financial Services Ombudsman or a person who formerly held either of those offices.

(2) The Council shall prepare a scheme for the provision of superannuation benefits to or in respect of the Financial Services Ombudsman and each Deputy Financial Services Ombudsman and any person who formerly held any of those offices. More than one scheme may be prepared under this subparagraph. However, a scheme prepared under this subparagraph does not take effect until the Minister has approved it.

(3) The Council shall ensure that a superannuation scheme prescribes the conditions under which a beneficiary and the beneficiary’s dependants will be eligible to receive superannuation benefits under the scheme. Different conditions may be prescribed according to the differing circumstances that apply to a particular beneficiary or the dependants of the beneficiary.

(4) The Council may from time to time prepare an amendment to a superannuation scheme, or a new superannuation scheme to be substituted for an existing scheme. However, an amendment to a superannuation scheme or a substituted superannuation scheme prepared under this subparagraph does not take effect until the Minister has approved it.

(5) The Council is responsible for ensuring that a superannuation scheme is approved by the Minister under this paragraph.

(6) Except with the written consent of the Minister, the Council may not provide superannuation benefits to or in respect of a beneficiary or make arrangements for the provision of such benefits otherwise than in accordance with a superannuation scheme approved by the Minister in accordance with this paragraph.

(7) The Council is responsible for conciliating and settling any dispute that arises in relation to a claim made by a beneficiary or a dependant of a beneficiary for or in respect of the payment of a superannuation benefit under a superannuation scheme approved by the Minister.

Superannuation schemes for the benefit of staff of the Bureau.

5.—(1) In this paragraph—

"superannuation benefit" means a superannuation benefit payable to a beneficiary or, if the beneficiary has died, to the spouse F835[or civil partner within the meaning of the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010] or a child of the beneficiary, and includes a pension, a retirement allowance and a gratuity;

"superannuation scheme" means a superannuation scheme prepared under subparagraph (2) or (4), and if the scheme is amended in accordance with this paragraph, means the scheme as amended;

"beneficiary" means a member or former member of the Bureau staff.

(2) The Council shall prepare a scheme for the provision of superannuation benefits to or in respect of members and former members of the Bureau staff. More than one scheme may be prepared under this subparagraph. However, a scheme prepared under this subparagraph does not take effect until the Minister has approved it.

(3) The Council shall ensure that a superannuation scheme prescribes the ages at which a beneficiary must retire and the conditions under which a beneficiary and the beneficiary’s dependants will be eligible to receive superannuation benefits under the scheme. Different retirement ages and eligibility conditions may be prescribed according to the differing circumstances that apply to a particular beneficiary or the dependants of the beneficiary.

(4) The Council may from time to time prepare an amendment to a superannuation scheme, or a new superannuation scheme to be substituted for an existing scheme. However, an amendment to a superannuation scheme, or a substituted superannuation scheme, prepared under this subparagraph does not take effect until the Minister has approved it.

(5) The Council is responsible for ensuring that a superannuation scheme is approved by the Minister in accordance with this paragraph.

(6) Except with the written consent of the Minister, the Council may not provide superannuation benefits to or in respect of a beneficiary or make arrangements for the provision of such benefits otherwise than in accordance with a superannuation scheme approved by the Minister in accordance with this paragraph.

(7) The Council is responsible for conciliating and settling any dispute that arises in relation to a claim made by a beneficiary or a dependant of a beneficiary for or in respect of the payment of a superannuation benefit under a superannuation scheme approved by the Minister.

Council to arrange for superannuation schemes and amendments to be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas.

6.—(1) As soon as practicable after the Minister has approved a superannuation scheme or an amendment to such a scheme in accordance with paragraph 4 or 5, the Council shall arrange for a copy of the document embodying the scheme or amendment to be laid before each House of the Oireachtas.

(2) Within 21 sitting days after a superannuation scheme or an amendment to such a scheme is laid before a House of the Oireachtas in accordance with subparagraph (1), the House may pass a resolution annulling the scheme or amendment. However, the annulment of such a scheme or amendment does not affect the validity of anything previously done under the scheme or the scheme as amended.

(3) If an amendment to a superannuation scheme is annulled under subparagraph (2), the scheme continues to have effect as if the amendment had never been made.]