Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 7:

In page 17, line 6, after “subject” to insert the following:“in circumstances in which a credit information subject has made a request for such an evaluation to be made”.

We had a lengthy discussion on this amendment on Committee Stage, when the Minister of State committed to reviewing the position, but he has not tabled an amendment. He said that when the section was taken in conjunction with other sections there was no need for a change. I believe there is a need for it, but I am eager to hear the reason provided. My concern is that information from the credit register could be used by a credit provider to offer credit to individuals who have not asked for it. I accept that it is difficult to utter such an idea at the end of 2013 because most people who are looking for credit from banks cannot get it, and issues arise in terms of freeing up credit. However, we will not always be in this space and we were not always in it. Many of us had the experience of credit being pushed on us by financial institutions. It was the decision of the individual to ultimately accept it, but one was encouraged to take it. We cannot return to such a situation and the register should not be used to allow it. I am concerned about section 16(b), which allows a credit institution to evaluate any risk arising from affording or extending credit to a person subject to credit information. I am worried that the information could be used for the purpose I have explained. I await the response of the Minister of State.

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