Results 10,601-10,620 of 26,804 for speaker:John McGuinness

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Financial Services Ombudsman's Bureau - Strategic Plan 2017 and Tracker Mortgage Issues: Discussion (2 Mar 2017)

John McGuinness: I seek clarity on insurance. The Financial Services Ombudsman takes in the various complaints received in respect of insurance companies. How does that role differ from the Central Bank's consumer protection role?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Financial Services Ombudsman's Bureau - Strategic Plan 2017 and Tracker Mortgage Issues: Discussion (2 Mar 2017)

John McGuinness: Can Mr. Deering tell me about insurance, particularly flood insurance? Where a client receives a quote and is given a premium, he or she cannot accept because the premium has to be paid upfront in circumstances where the insurance company does not arrange payment over a period of nine or 12 months. What does the Financial Services Ombudsman do about that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Financial Services Ombudsman's Bureau - Strategic Plan 2017 and Tracker Mortgage Issues: Discussion (2 Mar 2017)

John McGuinness: It is the payment method as well. People cannot afford to pay. Some of the premiums are colossal. There have been steep increases year on year.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Financial Services Ombudsman's Bureau - Strategic Plan 2017 and Tracker Mortgage Issues: Discussion (2 Mar 2017)

John McGuinness: Is there nothing that the Financial Services Ombudsman can do to force an insurance company to accept payment for a premium on the basis of direct debit over a period of nine or 12 months?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Financial Services Ombudsman's Bureau - Strategic Plan 2017 and Tracker Mortgage Issues: Discussion (2 Mar 2017)

John McGuinness: What would make the companies stretch that far?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Financial Services Ombudsman's Bureau - Strategic Plan 2017 and Tracker Mortgage Issues: Discussion (2 Mar 2017)

John McGuinness: Without doubt, there are cartel-like activities going on in the insurance sector. If competition in the market is not introduced in terms of premiums being accepted over a longer period and without an upfront payment, it will for ever be the same.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Financial Services Ombudsman's Bureau - Strategic Plan 2017 and Tracker Mortgage Issues: Discussion (2 Mar 2017)

John McGuinness: Where a consumer is taking out an insurance policy and paying the premium, there is not that much difference in the amount involved year on year. I accept that increases are evident but the customer will have been with the company for a while. If there is a change in the policy - regardless of how big or how small - is the insurance company obliged to tell the customer? I have received a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Financial Services Ombudsman's Bureau - Strategic Plan 2017 and Tracker Mortgage Issues: Discussion (2 Mar 2017)

John McGuinness: Can the Financial Services Ombudsman make them do that and to explain what is involved in layman's language so that the customer does not become lost in the course of the explanation?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Financial Services Ombudsman's Bureau - Strategic Plan 2017 and Tracker Mortgage Issues: Discussion (2 Mar 2017)

John McGuinness: If the Financial Services Ombudsman makes a finding against the insurance company, is it obliged to take that finding and apply it, not only to the client but to everyone?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Financial Services Ombudsman's Bureau - Strategic Plan 2017 and Tracker Mortgage Issues: Discussion (2 Mar 2017)

John McGuinness: I understand that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Financial Services Ombudsman's Bureau - Strategic Plan 2017 and Tracker Mortgage Issues: Discussion (2 Mar 2017)

John McGuinness: I have one other question regarding the banks. The banks administer European funding to small businesses at a special rate. When an application for that type of funding is refused, it is referred back to another State agency for its view on the reasons it was refused. Where that State agency indicates that the small business should get that loan but the bank continues to refuse, is that an...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Financial Services Ombudsman's Bureau - Strategic Plan 2017 and Tracker Mortgage Issues: Discussion (2 Mar 2017)

John McGuinness: On the tracker mortgages issue, is Mr. Deering satisfied that the banks are taking it seriously enough and allocating the staff to deal with the issue to bring about early conclusions for their clients who have been badly treated, both in terms of their final conclusion that they were wrong and that an amount of compensation is required? Is Mr. Deering happy that they are giving the required...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Financial Services Ombudsman's Bureau - Strategic Plan 2017 and Tracker Mortgage Issues: Discussion (2 Mar 2017)

John McGuinness: I want to return to a point and ask a different question on it. Where a loan is sold on to a vulture fund, it is done with all of the obligations to treat the customer the same way and so on. Has the ombudsman any role in cases in which a loan was taken out with a sub-prime lender?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Financial Services Ombudsman's Bureau - Strategic Plan 2017 and Tracker Mortgage Issues: Discussion (2 Mar 2017)

John McGuinness: Complaints from those who end up dealing with vulture funds, in terms of the way they are treated and the telephone calls they receive, all come under Mr. Deering's remit.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Financial Services Ombudsman's Bureau - Strategic Plan 2017 and Tracker Mortgage Issues: Discussion (2 Mar 2017)

John McGuinness: That is important because when we asked representatives of some of these funds to come before the committee, they refused. Obviously, they do not like anyone looking over their shoulder so it is important that people would know that Mr. Deering's office can take up at least some of those aspects.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Financial Services Ombudsman's Bureau - Strategic Plan 2017 and Tracker Mortgage Issues: Discussion (2 Mar 2017)

John McGuinness: Does Senator Horkan wish to contribute?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Financial Services Ombudsman's Bureau - Strategic Plan 2017 and Tracker Mortgage Issues: Discussion (2 Mar 2017)

John McGuinness: In closing, can I ask about all that is mentioned in legislation to empower the ombudsman's office to pursue matters? Is Mr. Deering happy that he has everything he needs to deal with these complaints?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Financial Services Ombudsman's Bureau - Strategic Plan 2017 and Tracker Mortgage Issues: Discussion (2 Mar 2017)

John McGuinness: Is there anything we can do as legislators to improve the strength and efficiency of Mr. Deering's office, bar throwing money at it?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Financial Services Ombudsman's Bureau - Strategic Plan 2017 and Tracker Mortgage Issues: Discussion (2 Mar 2017)

John McGuinness: Finally, I note letters received by individual public representatives, including Members of this House, regarding queries from constituents or people making a complaint about a bank will not suffice. Mr. Deering's office needs the client to come forward.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Financial Services Ombudsman's Bureau - Strategic Plan 2017 and Tracker Mortgage Issues: Discussion (2 Mar 2017)

John McGuinness: I have received letters on many occasions and I am sure I am not alone in this regard. In the case to which I refer, the person writing the letter is crying out for help and is pointing to the fact that a particular bank made her life hell and it continues to be hell. She has not made it public because she is embarrassed and does not want her family to know about it. Obviously, one is...