Results 21,941-21,960 of 27,945 for speaker:Michael McGrath

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process: (Resumed) Ulster Bank (8 Apr 2014)

Michael McGrath: Is Mr. Brown saying that the vast majority of the 4,323 in the legal repossession area have not engaged at all with the bank? In practice, does that mean they failed to return a telephone call or did not complete the standard financial statement?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process: (Resumed) Ulster Bank (8 Apr 2014)

Michael McGrath: How many cases are currently before the courts?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process: (Resumed) Ulster Bank (8 Apr 2014)

Michael McGrath: At what stages are they, generally?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process: (Resumed) Ulster Bank (8 Apr 2014)

Michael McGrath: More than 3,000 cases are before the courts. Presumably, the remaining 1,000 plus are awaiting a court date.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process: (Resumed) Ulster Bank (8 Apr 2014)

Michael McGrath: How many more of the bank's customers would have received the so-called threatening legal letter, whose case has not progressed to the formal legal process, perhaps, because a solicitor has not been appointed by the bank? There must be another cohort of people who received such a letter but whose case has not progressed further.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process: (Resumed) Ulster Bank (8 Apr 2014)

Michael McGrath: Is Mr. Bell saying that currently more than 6,500 of the bank's customers in arrears have either received a threatening legal letter from the bank or have already progressed to the formal legal repossession process?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process: (Resumed) Ulster Bank (8 Apr 2014)

Michael McGrath: It is incredible that approximately 6,500 of the bank's 14,000 customers in mortgage arrears are essentially in the legal realm. In launching the mortgage arrears targets programme the Central Bank and the Government hoped to generate some action. I am not sure this is the type of action they envisaged.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process: (Resumed) Ulster Bank (8 Apr 2014)

Michael McGrath: I accept that not all of the cases concerned with result in house repossession. Hopefully, the percentage for whom that is the outcome will be low. I expect that is what the bank is working towards.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process: (Resumed) Ulster Bank (8 Apr 2014)

Michael McGrath: It is frightening that approximately 50% of the banks mortgage arrears cases are heading down or are already well advanced down the legal route.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Mortgage Interest Rates (8 Apr 2014)

Michael McGrath: Many people who can afford to pay off their mortgages at an accelerated rate are deleveraging. There is a cohort who can do that. For many it is not an option. Rates are likely to remain low for tracker mortgages for the foreseeable future. Inevitably, however, they will begin to increase. As well as stress-testing the banks, the Department of Finance needs to stress-test mortgage...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Mortgage Interest Rates (8 Apr 2014)

Michael McGrath: This is an important issue worthy of debate. Considering that the average ECB rate since the introduction of the euro is approximately 2.5% and that the rate went as high as 4.75% approximately 12 years ago, we can see that today it is at an historically low level of 0.25% and it may even come down a little further to deal with the issue of deflation in the eurozone. As night follows day...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Mortgage Interest Rates (8 Apr 2014)

Michael McGrath: 1. To ask the Minister for Finance his views on the impact on mortgage holders, tracker and standard variable rate customers and on the economy generally of the possibility that interest rates may begin to climb again over the period ahead; and his plans to address the matter. [16460/14]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Mortgage Interest Rates (8 Apr 2014)

Michael McGrath: Question No. 1 in my name relates to our historically low interest rates, particularly for tracker mortgages. As the Minister knows, the banks are coming before the finance committee this week to give an update on how they are handling the mortgage arrears crisis. The purpose of this question is to have a debate on the impact of any future possible interest rate increases on mortgage...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tobacco Seizures (8 Apr 2014)

Michael McGrath: 12. To ask the Minister for Finance if he is concerned by the sharp decline in revenue seizures of illicit tobacco products; if this reflects a reduction in resources available to the Revenue Commissioners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16173/14]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: EU-IMF Programme of Support (8 Apr 2014)

Michael McGrath: 21. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will request permission to repay Ireland’s IMF loans prior to the maturity dates without triggering the need to repay other loans under the EU-IMF programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16171/14]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Banking Sector (8 Apr 2014)

Michael McGrath: 22. To ask the Minister for Finance if he has expressed concern to the European Commission at the delay in concluding an agreement on the restructuring plan for Permanent TSB; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16170/14]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (8 Apr 2014)

Michael McGrath: 43. To ask the Minister for Finance the steps being taken to ensure that the European Commission investigation into aspects of Ireland’s corporation tax regime is concluded in a timely manner and in a way that does not damage Ireland’s economic interests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16169/14]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Bank Charges (8 Apr 2014)

Michael McGrath: 81. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will provide full details, for each bank, of maximum level of charges relating to certain products and services which have been approved by the Central Bank of Ireland under section 149 of the Consumer Credit Act 1995, and for each such charge; if he will confirm the current charge being levied by the bank concerned; and if he will make a statement on...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Property Taxation Data (8 Apr 2014)

Michael McGrath: 124. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of persons who have been subject to each of the following sanctions in respect of the household charge for 2012: mandatory deduction at source from salary or occupational pension, surcharge on income tax, corporation tax or capital gains tax returns, referral to the Sheriff for collection, referral to the Revenue Commissioners' solicitors for...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Yield (8 Apr 2014)

Michael McGrath: 125. To ask the Minister for Finance the yield from stamp duty on credit and debit cards and yield from stamp duty on cheques in each year from 2008 to 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16416/14]