Results 3,741-3,760 of 24,308 for speaker:Jerry Buttimer

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (31 Mar 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: Hear, hear.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (31 Mar 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: That might not happen. I propose that we as a House send a message of congratulations to the Tory MP, Jamie Wallis, who came out as transgender yesterday. On this very important International Transgender Day of Visibility, I, on behalf of the Fine Gael Party, say that we stand strong and firm in support of our transgender family and friends. It is important that we send that message today...

Committee on Public Petitions: Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman Annual Report and Related Matters: Discussion (31 Mar 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach. I welcome Ms McGovern. I congratulate her on her presentation and on her work. On a purely functional level question, is she still operating in an acting capacity or has she been appointed?

Committee on Public Petitions: Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman Annual Report and Related Matters: Discussion (31 Mar 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: The acting Ombudsman’s report, as Deputy Higgins has said, and the ongoing online engagement has been quite good. The sense of connectivity is one that we should acknowledge. I also wish to pay paid tribute to Ger Deering for his work. He was very accessible to us as members of the committee or as Members of the Oireachtas and I thank him for that. To begin, I will flag a little...

Committee on Public Petitions: Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman Annual Report and Related Matters: Discussion (31 Mar 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: It is, more or less.

Committee on Public Petitions: Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman Annual Report and Related Matters: Discussion (31 Mar 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: I thank the acting Ombudsman. In the case of this complainant, there is a sincerity and frustration in respect of an anomaly and lacuna upon which we need to have a definitive answer and I will come back to that again on another day. In the context of the Ombudsman’s report, which is interesting, the number of complaints are down by 20%, at just over 5,000, but the number of...

Committee on Public Petitions: Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman Annual Report and Related Matters: Discussion (31 Mar 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: In terms of the Bank of Ireland, 16 cases were upheld around a combination of reasons such as tracker mortgages. How would Ms McGovern describe her engagement with the banks and their engagement with her? The core of what I am coming to, which I raised in the Seanad a number of weeks ago, is the issue of customer service and care in this country. It has deteriorated rapidly. One could...

Committee on Public Petitions: Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman Annual Report and Related Matters: Discussion (31 Mar 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: I would.

Committee on Public Petitions: Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman Annual Report and Related Matters: Discussion (31 Mar 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: My apologies. Is it within the remit of the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman to stipulate that, as part of that mandatory obligation, the letter and content should be very clear that it is a mandatory requirement and that the consumer has nothing to fear or worry about? In older people, in particular, it creates a sense of fear.

Committee on Public Petitions: Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman Annual Report and Related Matters: Discussion (31 Mar 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: It is a bit like the person whose spouse has died getting that automated letter. It causes upset and hurt. I ask the Chairman that we, as a committee, based upon the ombudsman's comments, reflect upon how we can engage with the Central Bank as part of our outcome from today's meeting, if that is appropriate.

Committee on Public Petitions: Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman Annual Report and Related Matters: Discussion (31 Mar 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: I thank the Chairman.

Committee on Public Petitions: Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman Annual Report and Related Matters: Discussion (31 Mar 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: I will make one final comment. I am conscious of time and I do not want to hold up the meeting. I thank the witnesses for their engagement, which has been very positive. In her presentation to us today, Ms McGovern spoke about how almost one quarter, that is, 22%, of the complaints made to her office were about poor customer service. I say to the ombudsman, Chairman and members that this...

Committee on Public Petitions: Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman Annual Report and Related Matters: Discussion (31 Mar 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: I thank the witnesses very much.

Committee on Public Petitions: Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman Annual Report and Related Matters: Discussion (31 Mar 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: I will not do it publicly today but I will talk to the ombudsman again. I would hope that maybe we could revisit that case. I will talk to the ombudsman's office. I thank her for that offer. I will do so rather than doing it publicly here today.

Committee on Public Petitions: Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman Annual Report and Related Matters: Discussion (31 Mar 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: I will come in on that point if I may. We have seen in some cases a number of banks becoming cashless. People who walk in cannot take out cash and cannot necessarily meet a cashier or bank teller. I am probably of the old school in that I do not have Revolut and I barely have the mobile app on my phone. It is discommoding to people. It is not just a rural issue. It is an urban issue as...

Committee on Public Petitions: Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman Annual Report and Related Matters: Discussion (31 Mar 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: I thank the ombudsman. I appreciate her reply.

Committee on Public Petitions: Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman Annual Report and Related Matters: Discussion (31 Mar 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: I thank Ms McGovern very much and I wish her well in her tenure.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Mar 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: I ask that the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and the Minister of State from that Department come to the House for a debate on the criteria we as a nation use to select how we bid for the hosting of sporting events. I do so conscious Ireland withdrew from the bid to host the Americas Cup, which is a prestigious race. The decision is a shortsighted one and a...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Mar 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: We missed that opportunity. We need to understand why this was not championed and put forward by Government the way the European soccer championship was - which I support. I ask we have that debate as a matter of urgency. It is important we get clarity and certainty that events not due to be held in Dublin will not be sacrificed. Ireland does not begin and end at the Red Cow.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Mar 2022)

Jerry Buttimer: Be it Cork, Clare, Galway, Kilkenny-----