Results 3,741-3,760 of 4,002 for speaker:Rose Conway Walsh
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Priorities of Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Discussion (25 Oct 2016)
Rose Conway Walsh: It goes back to the point that if the 30% is there as a buffer for protection, surely that is precisely for the reason that the 70% would be paid with the 30% held back.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Priorities of Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Discussion (25 Oct 2016)
Rose Conway Walsh: Has the Department done an audit on what the aggregate liability might be were the court case to be successful? I appreciate that Mr. O'Driscoll cannot talk about a single case but I do think there is-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Priorities of Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Discussion (25 Oct 2016)
Rose Conway Walsh: That is fair enough, but I do think it is-----
- Seanad: Order of Business (25 Oct 2016)
Rose Conway Walsh: I am glad that cleared that up. I refer to the report on media ownership in Ireland that my Sinn Féin colleague, Lynn Boylan, MEP, launched yesterday. The report, which examines the effect the concentration of media ownership has on the democratic process, was compiled by Caoilfhionn Gallagher and Jonathan Price of Doughty Street Chambers-----
- Seanad: Order of Business (25 Oct 2016)
Rose Conway Walsh: -----and Gavin Booth - I think the authors of this report should be commended – and Darragh Mackin of KRW Law. I acknowledge Lynn’s initiative and steadfastness in confronting the elephant in the room of Irish politics and media. The report states: “we consider there to be a perfect storm which poses grave risks to freedom of expression and media pluralism in the Irish...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Central Bank (Variable Rate Mortgages) Bill 2016: Discussion (20 Oct 2016)
Rose Conway Walsh: I thank the Chairman, the Minister and Deputy McGrath. I very much welcome this Bill, particularly the openness to amend and enhance the legislation to benefit people. Many of my questions have already been answered so far. I have a question for Deputy McGrath.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Central Bank (Variable Rate Mortgages) Bill 2016: Discussion (20 Oct 2016)
Rose Conway Walsh: Yes.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Central Bank (Variable Rate Mortgages) Bill 2016: Discussion (20 Oct 2016)
Rose Conway Walsh: I will ask my question, if that is okay.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Central Bank (Variable Rate Mortgages) Bill 2016: Discussion (20 Oct 2016)
Rose Conway Walsh: In the absence of this Bill, what would the Minister do differently to rescue or protect mortgage holders? When Deputy Pearse Doherty of Sinn Féin tabled the original Bill in June 2015, the intention was expressed that penal levies would be imposed on the banks to change their behaviour. Has the Minister done anything about that? When was the last time he raised the issue with the...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Central Bank (Variable Rate Mortgages) Bill 2016: Discussion (20 Oct 2016)
Rose Conway Walsh: Is the Minister happy with the behaviour of the banks in this regard?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Central Bank (Variable Rate Mortgages) Bill 2016: Discussion (20 Oct 2016)
Rose Conway Walsh: That is what I am trying to get at. I acknowledge that there have been some shifts which have had a positive impact. We would not be here today to discuss this Bill if the banks were doing what they are meant to do and if the Central Bank was doing what it is meant to do in line with its consumer protection role. I find it quite amazing that the Central Bank is refusing extra powers, or...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Central Bank (Variable Rate Mortgages) Bill 2016: Discussion (20 Oct 2016)
Rose Conway Walsh: I understand that. I think that by concentrating on switching, the Minister is under-estimating the ability of people to switch to other banks. I refer in particular to people who are in arrears. Could the Minister give me an opinion on the impact of quantitative easing on the Irish banks?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Central Bank (Variable Rate Mortgages) Bill 2016: Discussion (20 Oct 2016)
Rose Conway Walsh: Okay. I thank the Minister.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Central Bank (Variable Rate Mortgages) Bill 2016: Discussion (20 Oct 2016)
Rose Conway Walsh: I have one question. I have welcomed the Bill previously. In particular, I welcome the intention to take any amendments or alterations that would enhance the Bill in any way. My question relates to vulture funds. I am rather concerned about mortgages, including variable rate mortgages, that are being bought up by vulture funds. Will this Bill give those affected any assurance in terms of...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Central Bank (Variable Rate Mortgages) Bill 2016: Discussion (20 Oct 2016)
Rose Conway Walsh: My question relates to mortgage rates. It is of no use having that relationship with the intermediary under this Bill. Am I correct? Would it have any impact, even some limited impact, when we refer to the intermediary as opposed to the owner?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Central Bank (Variable Rate Mortgages) Bill 2016: Discussion (20 Oct 2016)
Rose Conway Walsh: I understand that. Can the owner decide on the rate without any reference to how the intermediary might be bound by this legislation? Is that the position regardless of whether the rate is 5%, 7%, 10% or whatever? Can the owner of the loan decide on the rate to charge for the mortgage that has been purchased?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Central Bank (Variable Rate Mortgages) Bill 2016: Discussion (20 Oct 2016)
Rose Conway Walsh: So it will not stop the setting of whatever rates the vulture funds deem necessary. This particular Bill will not but-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Central Bank (Variable Rate Mortgages) Bill 2016: Discussion (20 Oct 2016)
Rose Conway Walsh: It could but we are not sure yet. That is as far as we can get.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Central Bank (Variable Rate Mortgages) Bill 2016: Discussion (20 Oct 2016)
Rose Conway Walsh: I thank the witnesses for their excellent presentation. What would be natural and fair rates? The presentation referred to the Netherlands but given what we have been through, is there an argument that Irish rates should be higher than other wealthy western European countries for the foreseeable future as a result of the legacy? Is there a legacy cost or do the witnesses think we should...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Central Bank (Variable Rate Mortgages) Bill 2016: Discussion (20 Oct 2016)
Rose Conway Walsh: I agree with Mr. Burgess, by the way, but I believe it is important in this forum for us to get his opinion, as other people will be involved in the discussions around this. The legacy issues should really not be determining what is happening now.