Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 29 January 2014

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform

Report on Licensed Moneylending Industry: Central Bank of Ireland

3:55 pm

Mr. Bernard Sheridan:

Yes. A number of the smaller companies are struggling to make profits and they are reacting to this in different ways. One reaction is to increase rates. These companies need to be of a minimum size in order to make the business worth their while. Many of them are relatively small and as such are not viable. Another issue for them is the regulatory burden, including the annual licensing process with the Central Bank. When we come across issues, we put them through the hoop. For some companies, it is not worth their while.