Results 13,921-13,940 of 26,053 for speaker:Kieran O'Donnell

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: ECOFIN Meeting: Minister for Finance (6 Jul 2017)

Kieran O'Donnell: The issue of the timeframe relating to the restructuring of non-performing loans in Ireland is coming down the tracks. I fully accept and recognise that the public flotation of AIB shares was very welcome but many individuals with bank loans - including those with small business, farm and buy-to-let loans and, in particular, home loans - have come to members with concerns. The public knows...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: ECOFIN Meeting: Minister for Finance (6 Jul 2017)

Kieran O'Donnell: I accept that. The element of uncertainty in terms of banks and the public is where problems arise in the context of discerning exactly what will happen. That has been seen in other institutions. I welcome that the Minister is open to exploring various routes to deal with these issues. Can the Minister indicate whether discussions are taking place at European level in terms of allowing a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: ECOFIN Meeting: Minister for Finance (6 Jul 2017)

Kieran O'Donnell: The Minister will appreciate that we are coming off a very low base in terms of capital; it virtually went off a cliff. I completely agree with the Minister in terms of the delivery of projects, and that is about ensuring that a proper cost-benefit analysis is done upfront, which was not done of many projects in the past. Capital investment for our country is hugely important, as is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: ECOFIN Meeting: Minister for Finance (6 Jul 2017)

Kieran O'Donnell: I accept that, yes.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Jul 2017)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank the Cathaoirleach for his indulgence. Perhaps we could have a debate in the not too distant future on anti-social behaviour. Criminality is a problem but, at present, we have anti-social behaviour that is being tested in terms of the age profile of the people doing it and of how the laws apply. There were incidents in the Old Cratloe Road and Caherdavin area of Limerick in which...

Seanad: Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland (Amendment) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2017)

Kieran O'Donnell: This is a Sinn Féin amendment.

Seanad: Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland (Amendment) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2017)

Kieran O'Donnell: Will the Minister of State clarify the matter?

Seanad: Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland (Amendment) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2017)

Kieran O'Donnell: On a point of order, may we have precise clarification, perhaps through the Minister of State, as to whether the first amendment is a Government amendment?

Seanad: Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland (Amendment) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2017)

Kieran O'Donnell: I understand. Perhaps the Minister of State might confer with his officials.

Seanad: Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland (Amendment) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2017)

Kieran O'Donnell: Will the Minister of State clarify the position?

Seanad: Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland (Amendment) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2017)

Kieran O'Donnell: Senator Conway-Walsh can speak to the substantive point of the amendment then.

Seanad: Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland (Amendment) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2017)

Kieran O'Donnell: The Senator was a bit slow on the draw there.

Seanad: Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland (Amendment) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2017)

Kieran O'Donnell: I welcome the amendment. This issue of the six-year rule has come up repeatedly over a long number of years. Paragraph (b) of the amendment, which deals with the matter of life assurance, provides clarity in respect of any ambiguity surrounding the issues. I note the Government Bill is due to come forth as well and that identical amendments were tabled. This is all about what is best for...

Seanad: Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland (Amendment) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2017)

Kieran O'Donnell: We hear about the Financial Services Ombudsman, FSO, quite regularly. I feel that much of the information that goes to the ombudsman is incomplete. Putting a more formal structure in place regarding mediation would be helpful. It would put the onus back onto the provider of the financial product to engage in a meaningful manner. Some cases cannot be resolved by mediation, but it may give...

Seanad: Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland (Amendment) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2017)

Kieran O'Donnell: Sinn Féin will make its own decisions, but is there merit in withdrawing the amendment pending the discussions taking place with the Minister on the amendment on Report Stage?

Seanad: Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland (Amendment) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2017)

Kieran O'Donnell: Is some of this work not already done? Has it not already been looked at by the Financial Services Ombudsman's council?

Seanad: Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland (Amendment) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2017)

Kieran O'Donnell: I understand the import of Senator Horkan's argument. The purpose of the mechanism provided for dispute resolution by the Financial Services Ombudsman is to offer a low-cost service to ordinary consumers who wish to have a matter resolved as quickly as possible. Oral hearings invariably take a long time and can be costly. In routine cases, the ombudsman has the skill sets to examine the...

Seanad: Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland (Amendment) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (5 Jul 2017)

Kieran O'Donnell: In terms of legal fair play, I suppose the issue is that if the complainant can seek an oral hearing, I suspect the Financial Services Ombudsman can do likewise. When an oral hearing is requested, I am not certain of the legal obligation on the Financial Services Ombudsman to give a reason as to why such a request is not acceded to. Perhaps that is something that could be examined in the...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Jul 2017)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thought Senator Coghlan was Killarney's answer to Bord Fáilte. I extend my congratulations to our Leader, Senator Buttimer, on his engagement and wish him well. The big day is not too far ahead. It will be some time in December. As a good politician he has timed it to make certain it does not happen when there could be an election.

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Jul 2017)

Kieran O'Donnell: Are we getting a preview?