Results 6,261-6,280 of 7,975 for speaker:Joe Higgins

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (2 Apr 2015)

Joe Higgins: I have seen some deals, for example, concerning doctors, lawyers and such people being involved in syndicates, buying development land. What expertise or interest would those people have in buying development land that was, say, for housing?

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (2 Apr 2015)

Joe Higgins: May I ask whose side estate agents are on? Whose side are the boys on? I ask that in reference to a predecessor of Mr. Moran who, in 2006, made this statement: "Amazingly, the fundamental that is missed by those looking at the property market is that the price of land is high because the price that people are prepared to pay for houses is high, not vice versa." The suggestion there is...

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (2 Apr 2015)

Joe Higgins: The witness said he began to advise clients towards the end of 2005 to sell and to be cautious. Those clients included syndicates, people he himself described as high net worth individuals or very rich people.

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (2 Apr 2015)

Joe Higgins: Jones Lang LaSalle had nothing to do with syndicates.

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (2 Apr 2015)

Joe Higgins: What was Mr. Moran advising syndicates to do?

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (2 Apr 2015)

Joe Higgins: Mr. Moran said that former clients did not want to listen, in his words. Did greed for profits play a role in skewing their judgment?

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (2 Apr 2015)

Joe Higgins: Mr. Moran advises NAMA in certain aspects. Quoting again from the book by Deputy Shane Ross and Nick Webb:Jones Lang Lasalle was able to keep afloat through hefty fees from NAMA [after the crash]. In September 2011, John Moran said that the company's work for NAMA was relatively good for us in 2010. He was putting it mildly. The former firm was the biggest recipient of valuation fees from...

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (2 Apr 2015)

Joe Higgins: Was the firm----

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (2 Apr 2015)

Joe Higgins: Was it cushioned by being engaged with NAMA?

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (2 Apr 2015)

Joe Higgins: Mr. Moran approved of the real safe investment trusts, bringing in foreign investment into a distressed market, as I understand it. He said that such people were sometimes referred to as vulture funds. Is it socially beneficial that tenants are at the mercy of vulture funds, in Mr. Moran's view as an estate agent who sees various aspects of the situation?

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (2 Apr 2015)

Joe Higgins: Is it inevitable that vulture funds, so-called, coming in for short-term periods will increase rents? Does Mr. Moran favour rent control legislation?

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (2 Apr 2015)

Joe Higgins: On page 2 of Ms Hunt's written submission, she states:The research function at CBRE Ireland that I head up is modelled on the research platform in CBRE offices worldwide ... Having access to accurate and timely market information on trends and transactions is vital to CBRE in being able to accurately assess the commercial real estate market and provide the best qualitative and quantitative...

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (2 Apr 2015)

Joe Higgins: Was Professor Morgan Kelly also scaremongering, to use Ms Hunt's word, in December 2006 when he said in an article in The Irish Times, "If the experiences of economies similar to ours are anything to go by, we may be looking at large and prolonged falls in real house prices of the order of 40-50 per cent and a collapse of house-building activity"?

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (2 Apr 2015)

Joe Higgins: Professor Kelly cited several historical examples, dating back to 1970, of cycles of housing booms and busts. Did Ms Hunt remark on the studies he had carried out such as the one for his report for the ESRI in 2007?

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (2 Apr 2015)

Joe Higgins: If Professor Morgan Kelly could base his very accurate prediction on historical precedents and cycles, why did CBRE not get it?

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Context Phase (2 Apr 2015)

Joe Higgins: In Ms Hunt's research report of March 2005 on the development land market she said: "The landmark sale by CB Richard Ellis Gunne in late 2004 of the 11 acre Grange Castle site in Stillorgan for approximately €87 million ended what was a very busy year". That site was bought by a syndicate of rich people and Ms Hunt's company had organised the sale. After the syndicate had held on to...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Forbairt na nOileán (15 Apr 2015)

Joe Higgins: 916. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht cad iad na pleananna atá aici don fhorbairt gheilleagrach agus chun poist a chruthú ar Chléire, Contae Chorcaí; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [14244/15]

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Commissions of Investigation (21 Apr 2015)

Joe Higgins: 5. To ask the Taoiseach when his Department expects the final report of the Fennelly commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12747/15]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Prisoners Abroad (21 Apr 2015)

Joe Higgins: 217. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he requested the European Council at its meeting in December 2014 to make representations to the Egyptian Government for the release of an Irish citizen (details supplied) who has been designated a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International. [15231/15]

Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Nexus Phase (22 Apr 2015)

Joe Higgins: Yes. Thanks, gentlemen. If I could reprise very briefly the issue that was raised at the beginning of the meeting in relation to the type of securities or non-security that the banks required for large loans. Just very briefly to quote Mr. Daly. You said the "developer's equity contribution was a form of a rolling up of unrealised paper profit from other developments." You said, "In...