Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am record in regard to the lack of understanding on the part of the Department of Finance and, in particular, the Central Bank, in regard to the potential role of credit unions. Deputy McGrath spoke about the core issues, about which we have been talking for a number of years, including tiered regulation, fees and the credit union sector's desire to get involved in delivering the solution to the social housing crisis. The finance committee produced a report, which I assume the Minister has read. Does the Minister intend to respond to that report, in which his Department is tasked with carrying out certain actions, including to provide a roadmap for the future of credit unions in this State; the introduction of the necessary legislation; and oversight of various issues that have been identified. The Department is also tasked with interacting with the Central Bank because there are serious challenges identified in that report in relation to the Central Bank. Does the Minister, on behalf of the Government, intend to respond to the report and does he intend to carry out any of the actions of that report or is it just another credit union report that will gather dust on the shelves?

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