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Minister Donohoe makes appointments to the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman

  • Mr Ger Deering reappointed as Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman
  • Ms MaryRose McGovern appointed as Deputy Ombudsman

The Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform, Paschal Donohoe TD, has today (Wednesday) announced the reappointment of Mr Ger Deering as the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman. He also announced the appointment of Ms MaryRose McGovern as Deputy Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman, effective from 20th of April 2020.

Mr Deering was appointed as Financial Services Ombudsman in April 2015. He was, in addition, appointed as Pensions Ombudsman in May 2016. He led the establishment of the Office of the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (FSPO), in January 2018, following the amalgamation of the Financial Services Ombudsman Bureau and the Office of the Pensions Ombudsman. He led a change programme that has resulted in many more complaints against financial service providers and pension providers being resolved through mediation.

Mr Deering is being reappointed following the completion of his first term in office which ends on the 19th of April 2020.

Mr. Deering has established and led a number of public bodies and has considerable experience in protecting consumer and employment rights. Mr. Deering was the first Commissioner for Taxi Regulation, where he introduced a range of reforms to the industry. He was the founding Director of the National Employment Rights Authority (NERA). 

Following the completion of a process run by the Public Appointments Service in late 2019, Minister Donohoe is appointing Ms MaryRose McGovern as Deputy Ombudsman.

Ms. McGovern is a graduate of Law from Trinity College Dublin. A Solicitor by qualification, she worked for many years in private practice, as a Litigation Partner. Her specialty areas were Insurance and Commercial Litigation.

Ms. McGovern joined Ireland’s Ombudsman for Credit Institutions, in 2001 and following the establishment of the Financial Services Ombudsman’s Bureau, she was appointed Head of Investigation in 2008.

With the establishment of the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (FSPO) in January 2018, Ms. McGovern was appointed Director of Investigation, Adjudication and Legal Services.