Results 3,861-3,880 of 11,766 for speaker:Niall Collins

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman Data (4 Oct 2018)

Niall Collins: 84. To ask the Minister for Finance the amount expended by the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman on external consultants and legal service providers in 2017 and to date in 2018, in tabular form; the consultants and legal providers that provided such services; the amount of fees paid to each such body to date in each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40528/18]

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2018)

Niall Collins: That is very true.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2018)

Niall Collins: Priory Hall.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Consumer Protection (Amendment) Bill 2017: Discussion (2 Oct 2018)

Niall Collins: I am delighted that the Consumer Protection (Amendment) Bill 2017 is being discussed by the Joint Committee on Business, Enterprise and Innovation following the successful passage of this Bill on Second Stage in the Dáil last June. The Bill was passed with cross-party support in the Chamber that evening. I will reiterate many of the points I raised on that occasion again today. This is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Consumer Protection (Amendment) Bill 2017: Discussion (2 Oct 2018)

Niall Collins: Yes. The correspondence from the Ceann Comhairle mentioned incidental expenses. The budget of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission is in the order of €12.8 billion per annum, which is fairly significant. The Bill states that there should be basic transparency. It states that the person who purchases the gift voucher goes into the transaction with their eyes wide open....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Consumer Protection (Amendment) Bill 2017: Discussion (2 Oct 2018)

Niall Collins: That is a particular issue if a business closes or changes hands. In the case of the One4all card, the electronic money is held in escrow and is secure but this is not the case with vouchers. There is no such regulation for a single-store branded voucher from a shop, hotel, restaurant or chain store. If any such businesses close or change ownership, the person holding the gift voucher...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Consumer Protection (Amendment) Bill 2017: Discussion (2 Oct 2018)

Niall Collins: -----but I would take the advice of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission if it was to offer it. The Chairman mentioned the representative organisations. In the course of researching the Bill I came across an article which referenced Dermott Jewell, who advocates on behalf of the Consumers Association of Ireland. It stated that, in August 2016 the Consumers' Association of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Consumer Protection (Amendment) Bill 2017: Discussion (2 Oct 2018)

Niall Collins: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Consumer Protection (Amendment) Bill 2017: Discussion (2 Oct 2018)

Niall Collins: Yes, that arose on Second Stage. It is a valid point. It is not specifically referenced at present but there is no reason that it cannot be included by way of an amendment which would require anybody who is engaged in selling gift cards or vouchers to keep a register. Many of them do not. Again, this is not rocket science. It is achievable. It is not something that is going to send the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Consumer Protection (Amendment) Bill 2017: Discussion (2 Oct 2018)

Niall Collins: The US and Canada introduced an expiry date. We found in our research that it helped to reduce greatly the value of gift vouchers that were unpresented and were just left idle. The percentage shrunk to low single digit figures, which is good. The transparency aspect with regard to the terms and conditions that will attach to a gift card or voucher is important. This point was made to me...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Consumer Protection (Amendment) Bill 2017: Discussion (2 Oct 2018)

Niall Collins: We have not sought to be prescriptive in the Bill in terms of the fees and charges or the terms and conditions. It is about making the purchaser of the voucher completely aware that when purchasing the card or voucher he or she knows it is being purchased with set terms and conditions, whatever they may be. We are not getting into prescribing fees or the discounting. The Bill prescribes...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Consumer Protection (Amendment) Bill 2017: Discussion (2 Oct 2018)

Niall Collins: There was a public consultation in recent weeks. The committee is holding a meeting with the Department's officials after this so members will hear about that. We made a submission to that. We have also discussed it during Question Time in the House and there have been some parliamentary questions.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Consumer Protection (Amendment) Bill 2017: Discussion (2 Oct 2018)

Niall Collins: The Senator's comment on Senator Ivana Bacik's Bill reinforces what we are all saying. The thrust of her Bill, this Bill and Deputy Richard Bruton's Bill has been bouncing around the system in here for the bones of ten years. It is high time we dealt with this as we are all on the same page. The Senator asked about section 55 of the Consumer Protection Act 2017. That is something that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Consumer Protection (Amendment) Bill 2017: Discussion (2 Oct 2018)

Niall Collins: I will make two brief final points. I do not have a monopoly on wisdom and we will have the learned people from the Department to speak after me, who I am sure will give the committee some useful insights on this. Like any piece of legislation it can be amended and improved. This is the first offering and not the complete article. I wish to also put on the record that the Competition...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Expenditure (2 Oct 2018)

Niall Collins: 118. To ask the Taoiseach the communications, press and public relations budget allocated to his Department for 2018; the way in which it is being spent; and if it is behind or ahead of profile. [39379/18]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Expenditure (2 Oct 2018)

Niall Collins: 130. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the communications, press and public relations budget allocated to his Department for 2018; the way in which it is being spent; if it is behind or ahead of profile; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39369/18]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (2 Oct 2018)

Niall Collins: 145. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the communications, press and public relations budget allocated to his Department for 2018; the way in which it is being spent; if it is behind or ahead of profile; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39373/18]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Expenditure (2 Oct 2018)

Niall Collins: 165. To ask the Minister for Finance the communications, press and public relations budget allocated to his Department for 2018; the way in which it is being spent; if it is behind or ahead of profile; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39372/18]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Departmental Expenditure (2 Oct 2018)

Niall Collins: 189. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the communications, press and public relations budget allocated to his Department for 2018; the way in which it is being spent; if it is behind or ahead of profile; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39377/18]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Expenditure (2 Oct 2018)

Niall Collins: 206. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the communications, press and public relations budget allocated to his Department for 2018; the way in which it is being spent; if it is behind or ahead of profile; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39370/18]