To be clear, both points of view with regard to funding of the FSO are true in part. The FSO get funding by the Government imposing a financial levy on each customer account. The banks incorporate this levy into bank charges, so that Joe Public ends up paying for same. ( taxpayer pays indirectly ). Any shortfall in funding requirments in a given year are met by the government central fund ( taxpayer pays directly ).
In relation to Paul Ward's comment, the public have a short memory, remember Judge Cyril Kelly and Justice Hugh O'Flaharty had to resign due to political telephone calls, etc. Never forget we are living in a banana republic.