Results 2,461-2,480 of 9,252 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: General Scheme of the Access to Cash Bill 2024: Discussion (27 Feb 2024)

Jim O'Callaghan: The Department's concern is that there is no requirement now for many CIT and ATM deployers to register with the Central Bank and it wishes to put in place a statutory process for them to do so.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: General Scheme of the Access to Cash Bill 2024: Discussion (27 Feb 2024)

Jim O'Callaghan: I welcome this fact. It appears that it is just not the credit institutions that are designated entities that will be covered by the new powers to be given to the Central Bank, as other entities that have not been regulated up to now will also be included.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: General Scheme of the Access to Cash Bill 2024: Discussion (27 Feb 2024)

Jim O'Callaghan: Head 6 concerns reasonable access to cash. This is where the Minister does his assessment of what is required. It is just a general task the Minister must undertake to assess the level of ATM requirement in an area. The Minister does not take into account designated entities, ATM deployers and CIT companies in this regard.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: General Scheme of the Access to Cash Bill 2024: Discussion (27 Feb 2024)

Jim O'Callaghan: Okay. Head 8 gives the Central Bank the power to issue a notification to designated entities in respect of a local deficiency. Is this the head that will give the power to the Central Bank to issue a direction to designated entities stating there is a need for ATMs in a location?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: General Scheme of the Access to Cash Bill 2024: Discussion (27 Feb 2024)

Jim O'Callaghan: If there is a failure to comply with the draft direction, there will be an administrative fine or something to that effect.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: General Scheme of the Access to Cash Bill 2024: Discussion (27 Feb 2024)

Jim O'Callaghan: It is not a criminal offence.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: General Scheme of the Access to Cash Bill 2024: Discussion (27 Feb 2024)

Jim O'Callaghan: It is an administrative fine that is imposed.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: General Scheme of the Access to Cash Bill 2024: Discussion (27 Feb 2024)

Jim O'Callaghan: That makes sense, of course. In Part 3, a different system is needed. A new statutory requirement is being placed on the CIT companies and the ATM deployers to require them to register with the Central Bank. Under head 12, it will be a criminal offence if they do not do so. Is that correct?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: General Scheme of the Access to Cash Bill 2024: Discussion (27 Feb 2024)

Jim O'Callaghan: The way to pull them in, therefore, is to make them subject to registration.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: General Scheme of the Access to Cash Bill 2024: Discussion (27 Feb 2024)

Jim O'Callaghan: Moving to head 16, in respect of the requirement to be registered, the Central Bank can impose conditions on a CIT company. What type of conditions are we thinking of here? Are we going to try to ensure a CIT company puts mechanisms in place in this regard? What is the purpose here in terms of trying to impose conditions? What type of conditions could be imposed on such a company?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: General Scheme of the Access to Cash Bill 2024: Discussion (27 Feb 2024)

Jim O'Callaghan: Head 20 makes it a criminal offence for them not to comply with that. The reason I am asking these questions is what the banking federation has to say. In its statement, the banking federation points out: "Under the proposed provisions, it is the three retail banks that will have sole and legal responsibility for maintaining the prescribed levels of access to both ATM and cash access points...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: General Scheme of the Access to Cash Bill 2024: Discussion (27 Feb 2024)

Jim O'Callaghan: Is there substance to what they say? If Mr. Palmer is saying that only one third of the ATMs in the country are controlled by so-called "designated entities", as they are defined in the heads of Bill, is it not the case that we should be trying to put some statutory obligation on the entities that control the two thirds of them?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: General Scheme of the Access to Cash Bill 2024: Discussion (27 Feb 2024)

Jim O'Callaghan: Does Mr. Palmer think they would be frightened off?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: General Scheme of the Access to Cash Bill 2024: Discussion (27 Feb 2024)

Jim O'Callaghan: I am just interested to hear. I do not know.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: General Scheme of the Access to Cash Bill 2024: Discussion (27 Feb 2024)

Jim O'Callaghan: I thank them witnesses for that. I am conscious of time. I also thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: General Scheme of the Access to Cash Bill 2024: Discussion (27 Feb 2024)

Jim O'Callaghan: This legislation also seeks to give the Central Bank powers to impose conditions on ATM operators and cash-in-transit, CIT, companies.

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (27 Feb 2024)

Jim O'Callaghan: 417. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will detail the number of children in each county who benefited from supports under the national childcare scheme in 2022 and 2023, by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8709/24]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Facilities (22 Feb 2024)

Jim O'Callaghan: 286. To ask the Minister for Health the number of hospital beds currently provided in each public or voluntary hospital as of 16 February 2024, or the latest date available, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8482/24]

Ceisteanna - Questions: European Council (21 Feb 2024)

Jim O'Callaghan: 8. To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the recent special meeting of the European Council on Ukraine. [7798/24]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ukraine War (21 Feb 2024)

Jim O'Callaghan: 33. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his assessment of the current situation in relation to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine; if any further measures against Russia are anticipated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8257/24]