Results 9,461-9,480 of 10,460 for speaker:Gerry Horkan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Overview of the Credit Union Sector: Discussion (21 Mar 2017)

Gerry Horkan: That is very helpful. On Thursday we will have the opportunity to put some of these points to officials and we will hear their take on the sector.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Overview of the Credit Union Sector: Discussion (21 Mar 2017)

Gerry Horkan: Are these the 50 largest ones?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Overview of the Credit Union Sector: Discussion (21 Mar 2017)

Gerry Horkan: The sense of frustration from all of the witnesses is palpable. I do not think they are picking on us, but they are wondering where to turn next. We want to do X, Y and Z and we are not being let. Everyone is saying we should, but no one says we can.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Overview of the Credit Union Sector: Discussion (21 Mar 2017)

Gerry Horkan: That might bring us to one of the next points. The Chairman alluded to the idea of champions and so on. Most members, not just in this committee but Members of the Houses, have been supportive of the credit union movement over the years. One of the positive points about financial inclusion is the aspect of the "It Makes Sense" loan scheme in co-operation with the Department of Social...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Overview of the Credit Union Sector: Discussion (21 Mar 2017)

Gerry Horkan: The product has been piloted in 100 credit unions. Is there a fairly high level of compliance in the repayment of loans?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Overview of the Credit Union Sector: Discussion (21 Mar 2017)

Gerry Horkan: At present, the consumer is getting a loan at a much more reasonable rate of interest.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Overview of the Credit Union Sector: Discussion (21 Mar 2017)

Gerry Horkan: But the credit unions are not making anything from it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Overview of the Credit Union Sector: Discussion (21 Mar 2017)

Gerry Horkan: It comes into the financial inclusion Ms O'Connor mentioned. Does Mr. Johnson wish to speak on this?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Overview of the Credit Union Sector: Discussion (21 Mar 2017)

Gerry Horkan: That is the sense we have all received from today's meeting. I will ask my colleague, Deputy Michael McGrath, to speak shortly, but there is a fairly united message from all of our guests to the effect that they are frustrated with the system as it is. They are being encouraged to contemplate doing certain things but when they try to do them, there appears to be a barrier or a wall of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Overview of the Credit Union Sector: Discussion (21 Mar 2017)

Gerry Horkan: There has been nothing since.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Overview of the Credit Union Sector: Discussion (21 Mar 2017)

Gerry Horkan: Our guests are saying that there is slow progress, if any.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Overview of the Credit Union Sector: Discussion (21 Mar 2017)

Gerry Horkan: In her Mind the Gap address to the CUMA spring conference, Anne Marie McKiernan, the registrar stated:What is striking from our engagements is that, with a small number of notable exceptions, we see little exploration as to how credit unions intend to leverage long term lending to drive future profitability ... Also, we have not received any specific proposal on changing long term lending...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Overview of the Credit Union Sector: Discussion (21 Mar 2017)

Gerry Horkan: I just wanted Mr. Johnson's take on what was in that speech.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Overview of the Credit Union Sector: Discussion (21 Mar 2017)

Gerry Horkan: I am just taking what was said because it is part of the overall dialogue. It is part of what we are trying to consider. By and large, Mr. McCrory knows this industry better than we do. We just want to hear everybody's perspective on it and try to see where the logjams are. The final point, which I raised at a committee meeting with some people from the Central Bank, is that some credit...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Overview of the Credit Union Sector: Discussion (21 Mar 2017)

Gerry Horkan: I thank all the witnesses for coming here this afternoon, their statements in advance and on the day and their interaction with all of the members. It has been a very comprehensive afternoon and we look forward to Thursday's meeting where we might get to put some of the points raised by the witnesses on behalf of members and their organisations to those officials and the Registrar for Credit...

Seanad: Rebuilding Ireland: Statements (21 Mar 2017)

Gerry Horkan: The Minister has only three minutes left.

Seanad: Rebuilding Ireland: Statements (21 Mar 2017)

Gerry Horkan: The Minister of State has one minute remaining. It seems Senator Murnane O'Connor wants to make a point of order.

Seanad: Rebuilding Ireland: Statements (21 Mar 2017)

Gerry Horkan: Sorry, Minister. Senator Murnane O'Connor has a point of order.

Seanad: Rebuilding Ireland: Statements (21 Mar 2017)

Gerry Horkan: That is not a point of order.

Seanad: Rebuilding Ireland: Statements (21 Mar 2017)

Gerry Horkan: Senator Murnane O'Connor, you have made the point.