Results 1,961-1,980 of 2,886 for speaker:Pat Buckley

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy (Resumed): Discussion. (25 Apr 2023)

Pat Buckley: We have to have a wider conversation about this. People outside of this committee and others - including me before I read the notes this morning - may not be aware that The Adult Autism Practice, Thriving Autistic and Neuro Pride Ireland even exist. These organisations have a wealth of knowledge and expertise and a willingness to share them, which is a vital ingredient.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy (Resumed): Discussion. (25 Apr 2023)

Pat Buckley: I thank Nem for that response. I was led to believe the Decision Support Service would be fully funded. I contacted it early last year and was really excited about what I heard. I was thinking this would go right. Having listened to Nem, I realise I need to revisit the issue, go back and find out what the bloody hell is happening.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism: Autism Policy (Resumed): Discussion. (25 Apr 2023)

Pat Buckley: We were told the service would be making a chocolate cake but we are now finding out that it is making a cake with no chocolate. That is what is happening. I do not mince my words.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (25 Apr 2023)

Pat Buckley: 193. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will explain the rationale and reasoning behind issuing a section 24 letter to the TII as part of the roads allocations to County Cork for 2023, which effectively overruled TII’s proposal to fund the Mallow Relief Road to the amount of €1.4 million; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19406/23]

Support for Household Energy Bills: Motion [Private Members] (3 May 2023)

Pat Buckley: I listened to the Minister's response to the first speakers. I went through his amendment to compare it to the motion, which is a simple little two-pager. When I say "simple", I mean that it calls for the introduction of a windfall tax, the provision of financial relief and certainty for householders, the reversal of the increase in carbon tax and the provision of new regulatory powers to...

Support for Household Energy Bills: Motion [Private Members] (3 May 2023)

Pat Buckley: The news is that the impact of the decision to unwind the rebalancing is estimated to reduce an average domestic customer's annual bill by €40. This is what the Government's amendment calls for. The Minister has already heard speakers this evening. Everybody struggles with household debt. A recent interesting article stated that fuel poverty equals household poverty equals child...

Committee on Public Petitions: Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman Annual Report 2021 and Related Matters: Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (4 May 2023)

Pat Buckley: I thank the witnesses for giving up their time to come before the committee. Theirs is a young office that was only established in 2018 and they have been busy. Mr. Sloyan mentioned in his opening statement that the FSPO can direct compensation of up to €500,000. I do not think people are aware of that. I note the FSPO has strong powers, as it should. I am especially interested in...

Committee on Public Petitions: Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman Annual Report 2021 and Related Matters: Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (4 May 2023)

Pat Buckley: Please do. I know there was a lot in what I asked.

Committee on Public Petitions: Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman Annual Report 2021 and Related Matters: Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (4 May 2023)

Pat Buckley: I apologise. Those were my words.

Committee on Public Petitions: Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman Annual Report 2021 and Related Matters: Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (4 May 2023)

Pat Buckley: I absolutely do. That is excellent.

Committee on Public Petitions: Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman Annual Report 2021 and Related Matters: Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (4 May 2023)

Pat Buckley: It is a huge success rate. For many of the committees here, there is never good news. There are always problems, issues or things that cannot be resolved. With a success rate like this, it is very important, even in these committees, that the good news story gets out because people are probably not aware of it. I was very surprised when I read some of the report. I thought that 82% was a...

Committee on Public Petitions: Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman Annual Report 2021 and Related Matters: Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (4 May 2023)

Pat Buckley: I know, but it is still encouraging to hear that.

Committee on Public Petitions: Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman Annual Report 2021 and Related Matters: Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (4 May 2023)

Pat Buckley: That is very good. There were 4,781 complaints in 2022 and 4,647 of those were closed, with impactful outcomes for customers, including financial outcomes totalling more than €5 million for individual complaints were delivered. It is a good news story. I will definitely touch base with the office because we have a lot of complaints about vulture funds or alternative arrangements...

Committee on Public Petitions: Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman Annual Report 2021 and Related Matters: Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (4 May 2023)

Pat Buckley: This is vital, because in Irish society, or in any society for that matter, people are very slow to change. I always say that the key to anything is getting the right information out into the public domain. I suspect that the witnesses might be a lot busier after this meeting. Unfortunately, that comes with success. I will certainly be working with the office more because I did not...

Committee on Public Petitions: Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman Annual Report 2021 and Related Matters: Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (4 May 2023)

Pat Buckley: That is excellent. As I have said, that information itself is extremely beneficial. I was not aware of it but now I am. Moreover, people listening in will be aware of it. It is about engaging with the FSPO. As somebody once said to me, if you do not learn something new every day, forget about it. I welcome that. Unfortunately, when the FSPO starts hearing from me, it will be busier. I...

Committee on Public Petitions: Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman Annual Report 2021 and Related Matters: Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (4 May 2023)

Pat Buckley: Reference was made to fraud and investment fraud. What kind of investment fraud are the ombudsman's offices coming across?

Committee on Public Petitions: Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman Annual Report 2021 and Related Matters: Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (4 May 2023)

Pat Buckley: If it was something like that, and given that fraud is a criminal offence, can the ombudsman's office refer that to An Garda Síochána? What is the process there? I ask this in order that people outside would know.

Committee on Public Petitions: Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman Annual Report 2021 and Related Matters: Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (4 May 2023)

Pat Buckley: That is excellent.

Committee on Public Petitions: Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman Annual Report 2021 and Related Matters: Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (4 May 2023)

Pat Buckley: That is very interesting. It was the security aspect.

Committee on Public Petitions: Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman Annual Report 2021 and Related Matters: Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (4 May 2023)

Pat Buckley: It is about accountability, responsibility and proper rules and regulation, proper security procedures and so on. If they are failing on that then there is an issue. That is excellent.