Results 3,981-4,000 of 35,563 for speaker:Pearse Doherty

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defective Building Materials (22 Jun 2023)

Pearse Doherty: I thank the Minister for meeting with them. This is an ongoing process. When banks were issuing this loans, no one foresaw that we would see a scenario whereby thousands of homes need to be demolished and rebuilt. I know some of the individuals who are already in the process of doing so. It means they have to get bridging finance in the region of €70,000. Many families are not...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defective Building Materials (22 Jun 2023)

Pearse Doherty: I welcome the Minister's engagement on this issue. I say this with respect but this is an example of how a scheme is devised by the Government without understanding how it flows through. We now have a situation, as I said, where people have to find bridging finance of €70,000 and more to fund the rebuild of their homes. The mortgage terms and conditions, which are legally binding,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Insurance Industry (22 Jun 2023)

Pearse Doherty: I thank Deputy Ó Murchú for placing this question. I have a conflict of interest to disclose. As a director and promoter of a music festival, we hold our breath every year when we have our music festival because insurance is a major issue. If there are claims, that could put a not-for-profit festival out of being. It is apt that the Deputy has raised this issue in regard to what...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defective Building Materials (22 Jun 2023)

Pearse Doherty: 91. To ask the Minister for Finance for an update on his engagement with mortgage lenders and representative bodies with respect to forbearance measures, financing solutions and the mortgage loan treatment of mortgage holders where their loans are secured against properties affected by defective blocks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30178/23]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defective Building Materials (22 Jun 2023)

Pearse Doherty: I want again to raise the difficulties being experienced by homeowners in my own county of Donegal and elsewhere in regard to those affected with defective blocks. They were failed by the Government scheme, which failed to provide 100% redress. Despite this, homeowners are doing their best to work with the scheme and rebuild their homes and lives. However, serious problems remain from...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Mortgage Resolution Processes (22 Jun 2023)

Pearse Doherty: I raise again the plight faced by workers and families whose mortgages were sold on to vulture funds without their consent. These sales were supported and facilitated by both Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil. As a result of interest rate hikes, these borrowers are now facing rates of as high as 8%. They are forking out thousands more in interest every year because the vulture funds now hold...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Mortgage Resolution Processes (22 Jun 2023)

Pearse Doherty: I mentioned earlier that we had a number of people before the Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach. James Byrne and Grainne Quinn were present and both had their mortgage loans sold by Permanent TSB to a vulture fund. James is now being charged an interest rate of 7.25%. He is waiting for another letter in the post to inform him of the most recent hike...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Mortgage Resolution Processes (22 Jun 2023)

Pearse Doherty: To give the Minister an example, James is meeting all his mortgage payments, has never defaulted and has never gone into arrears. Permanent TSB, his originator bank, is State-owned and the Minister is a majority shareholder in it. That bank will not even entertain James in relation to switching. It will not deal with him at all because he has a split mortgage. Permanent TSB actually...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Crime Prevention (22 Jun 2023)

Pearse Doherty: Figures released to me by the Department of Justice show that since 2019 investment fraud has risen by 258%, account takeover fraud has increased by a staggering 560%, romance fraud has risen by 83% while scams through phishing, vishing and smishing have increased by 417%. These are frightening figures. Citizens are being robbed of millions of euro each year by fraudsters. Last week...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Crime Prevention (22 Jun 2023)

Pearse Doherty: The Minister has no strategy two and a half years on - that is a fact. The Government is blocking the implementation of a shared information fraud database which would allow for information to be shared in real time. It is clear that the Government is not taking the issue of this growing crime seriously. Interventions could be made to protect citizens from the criminal activities of...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Crime Prevention (22 Jun 2023)

Pearse Doherty: 82. To ask the Minister for Finance the input he and his Department have had in the establishment of a multi-annual strategy to combat economic crime and corruption, including fraud and scams; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30242/23]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Crime Prevention (22 Jun 2023)

Pearse Doherty: In recent years, there has been a dramatic and worrying increase in the incidence of financial fraud and scams. Everyone has seen that. Citizens are increasingly concerned that the text messages and calls they receive are scams and that the adverts they see online are not genuine, but fraudulent. Despite this, the Government still does not have a multi-annual strategy to combat financial...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Interest Rates (22 Jun 2023)

Pearse Doherty: 80. To ask the Minister for Finance his views on the recent increases in interest rates by the ECB; his assessment of their impact on mortgage borrowers; and if he will introduce temporary and targeted mortgage interest relief. [30241/23]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Interest Rates (22 Jun 2023)

Pearse Doherty: The Minister will be well aware, and hundreds of thousands of people, unfortunately, are well aware, that the European Central Bank has raised its interest rates for the eighth time since July. These sharp hikes in interest rates have led to a significant rise in mortgage costs and a massive income shock for hundreds of thousands of borrowers. Those borrowers are already in the grip of a...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Interest Rates (22 Jun 2023)

Pearse Doherty: That is fine for the Minister for Finance to say because there are people in this House who may be able to withstand the types of shocks we have seen. However, we on the finance committee had two people before us yesterday. Both had their mortgages sold on from Permanent TSB to the vulture funds, which my legislation would have stopped, but Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael frustrated that....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Interest Rates (22 Jun 2023)

Pearse Doherty: One of the witnesses who came before the finance committee made it very clear that she does not want to fall into arrears. Actually, both witnesses have not missed a payment, have never been in arrears and are meeting all their payments. The reality, however, is that when interest rates increase to the level they have increased to as a result of those loans being sold to the vulture funds,...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Cross-Border Co-operation (22 Jun 2023)

Pearse Doherty: 57. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the Government will commit to funding 50% of the A5 upgrade project, as agreed in the St. Andrews Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30076/23]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (22 Jun 2023)

Pearse Doherty: 71. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if an update can be provided regarding the status of the TEN-T project, which will fund three sections of road in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30077/23]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Reliefs (22 Jun 2023)

Pearse Doherty: 115. To ask the Minister for Finance the current status of the disabled drivers and disabled passengers scheme; when the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal will recommence hearings; the number of appeals and request for appeal hearings that have been lodged since November 2021; and his response to the recent annual report of the Ombudsman with respect to same. [30180/23]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Mortgage Interest Rates (22 Jun 2023)

Pearse Doherty: 142. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will detail any action he and his Department are considering, and engagements he has had with the retail banking sector and Central Bank, to promote switching and the reintegration of mortgage borrowers with loans held by vulture funds into the mainstream mortgage market. [30181/23]