Results 7,241-7,260 of 26,043 for speaker:Kieran O'Donnell

Banking Inquiry: Motion (25 Nov 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: I am pleased to contribute to this debate. The people have experienced extraordinarily difficult times in recent years. In large part the causes are rooted in the financial meltdown triggered by the failure of the banking system. Despite the trauma inflicted, we still have not fully uncovered the truth of what happened in the banking system. Until the source of this crisis is fully...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Administration (25 Nov 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: 240. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when an inspection will be carried out in connection with the single farm payment at a farm (details supplied) in County Limerick [45189/14]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Overview of Banking Sector: Central Bank (26 Nov 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: I welcome Professor Honohan. The rate that the Central Bank has quoted as being the average rate is 3.47%. However, the standard variable rate available for new business is approximately 4.3%. We are hearing reports that restructured tracker mortgages are included in the Central Bank's figures. Is that correct?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Overview of Banking Sector: Central Bank (26 Nov 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: Can I take it from what Professor Honohan has just said that in any future publications from the Central Bank, two figures will be given? The first will be based on what the bank regards as the standard norm ---

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Overview of Banking Sector: Central Bank (26 Nov 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: The Central Bank will, henceforth, publish a report which will give two elements. The first will be the standard measure, which is an international measure as well the other figure, in this case, 4.51%. In an Irish context, 4.51% is the more appropriate rate to quote.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Overview of Banking Sector: Central Bank (26 Nov 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: That is about 2% above the norm in Europe. Why is that the case?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Overview of Banking Sector: Central Bank (26 Nov 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: How do we get competition into the market? We had the principal banks in before this committee last week.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Overview of Banking Sector: Central Bank (26 Nov 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: It is clear, from the way they are pricing, that we almost have a cartel in the first-time buyer market in banking. We do not appear to have effective competition. The Central Bank's role is to regulate banking. Professor Honohan said in a previous presentation that competition is not just about the number of banks in the market but also about the environment. How can we get to a point...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Overview of Banking Sector: Central Bank (26 Nov 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: Are there any current applications for a banking licence?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Overview of Banking Sector: Central Bank (26 Nov 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: In the Governor's opening statement he said that the banks were constrained by their inability to restore spreads on trackers. The banks have sought all means to restore their profitability, including the widening of the standard variable rate spreads which typically apply to old as well as new business. Tracker mortgages are clearly proving very difficult for the banks to deal with in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Overview of Banking Sector: Central Bank (26 Nov 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: Could Professor Honohan come up with a blended type of offer to the ECB which would involve the banks' holdings of Government bonds? It is clear to any observer that there is a difficulty with tracker mortgages. For each bank, they make up a different percentage of their mortgage book. Interestingly, Permanent TSB's percentage, contrary to perception, is lower than that of its competitors....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Overview of Banking Sector: Central Bank (26 Nov 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: Does the Governor remain of the view that a policy of moving tracker mortgages off the Irish banks' books would be helpful?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Overview of Banking Sector: Central Bank (26 Nov 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: Does Professor Honohan see logic in it?

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (27 Nov 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: The office of the parliamentary legal adviser.

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (27 Nov 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: It is relatively straightforward. The whistleblower has written to us and we have received legal advice from the parliamentary legal advisers about our remit. The Revenue Commissioners falls within our remit and we are requesting that its representatives come before the committee. They have already dealt with this. I am also concerned to ensure that anyone who comes in before us has...

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 86 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Bord na gCon (27 Nov 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: Has the Deputy got a dog running?

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 86 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Bord na gCon (27 Nov 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: I welcome Mr. Meaney and his colleagues. I am a Deputy for Limerick city. The greyhound track at the Greenpark site is a fantastic amenity for the city. I have fond memories of Markets Field when it operated as a greyhound track as well. I welcome that it is now being developed for Limerick Football Club. It is a fantastic amenity. Nevertheless, let us go back. Much of this is...

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 86 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Bord na gCon (27 Nov 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: Yes. What annual budget does Bord na gCon have?

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 86 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Bord na gCon (27 Nov 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: Give me the income and expenditure in gross figures.

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 86 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Bord na gCon (27 Nov 2014)

Kieran O'Donnell: I am not looking at detail. I am trying to make a point. It seems extraordinary that for a critical period between April 2008 and February 2012 there was no chief financial officer in place, despite a budget at that level. Let us consider it from a governance viewpoint. This is critical in terms of strategic dates. Bord na gCon purchased the site at Greenpark in June 2008. Does Mr....