Results 1,181-1,200 of 9,393 for speaker:Alex White
- Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (30 Apr 2015)
Alex White: -----leave them on the record and make no effort whatsoever to ensure-----
- Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (30 Apr 2015)
Alex White: ----- that there is any kind of a reasonable basis for what is being said.
- Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (30 Apr 2015)
Alex White: That means-----
- Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (30 Apr 2015)
Alex White: -----that the Deputies opposite cannot actually be taken seriously in relation to anything they say.
- Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (30 Apr 2015)
Alex White: If they come in and have something to say, they should have a basis for it. I believe that this inquiry is the correct way to proceed.
- Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (30 Apr 2015)
Alex White: I believe that it will be independent. I believe that it will report by the end of August.
- Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (30 Apr 2015)
Alex White: I believe that Mr. Justice Iarfhlaith O'Neill, a retired High Court judge, will ensure that any conflict of interest, or perceived conflict of interest, will be addressed. It would do well for this House for the Deputy opposite to see that the best way to proceed in this kind of matter is to have a robust investigation-----
- Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (30 Apr 2015)
Alex White: Yes, an independent investigation, and to bring the results in here and pass them to a committee and deal with them at that stage, but that is not the way the Deputies opposite operate.
- Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (30 Apr 2015)
Alex White: They operate on the basis of smear and on the basis of groundless allegation-----
- Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (30 Apr 2015)
Alex White: -----and that is always the way they operate.
- Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (30 Apr 2015)
Alex White: The tactic of getting people angry may be one that is practised by the Deputy opposite but it is certainly not one that is practised on this side of the House.
- Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (30 Apr 2015)
Alex White: To assist in ensuring order in the House, I will not ask the Deputy any more questions. I can understand his aversion to being asked questions, whether it is about this issue, his party's economic policy or anything else. I will not ask him any more questions because I know he finds it difficult to address those issues.
- Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (30 Apr 2015)
Alex White: What I have said in response to the Deputy is true. He started off in an attempt to mollify me by accusing me of being intelligent. All I am saying is that he knows the Government has no statutory power to intervene in the way he seems to be suggesting. If he is proposing a change in the law, let us hear what he has to say. I realise there is a competitive tension between the two parties...
- Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (30 Apr 2015)
Alex White: I am anxious to clarify the matter. The Minister for Finance, Deputy Michael Noonan, said yesterday:I am calling in the senior management of the six major lenders in the market in Ireland, and I will present them with the evidence from the Central Bank, and I will say to them I think they should reduce their interest rates and that we want to discuss it, and I will want them to explain why...
- Leaders' Questions (30 Apr 2015)
Alex White: The statement of Government priorities from 2014 to 2016 recognised that promoting and encouraging competition and new entrants in the banking sector were required to put downward pressure on interest rates for variable rate mortgage customers, both new and existing.
- Leaders' Questions (30 Apr 2015)
Alex White: The mortgage interest rates that independent financial institutions operating in Ireland charge to customers are determined as a result of a commercial decision by the institutions concerned. The Minister for Finance and the Central Bank have no statutory role, as the Deputy is aware, in respect of the mortgage interest rates charged.
- Leaders' Questions (30 Apr 2015)
Alex White: While the ECB base rate is a factor in determining those rates, a broad range of other factors, including deposit rates, market funding costs, the competitive environment and the institutions' overall funding, are key determinants. The improvements in the overall economy, reduction in the cost of funds, increased demand and greater competition between lenders has led to a reduction in the...
- Leaders' Questions (30 Apr 2015)
Alex White: As part of the Central Bank's work on mortgage arrears, lenders were asked to consider all avenues to help customers in arrears, including interest rate reductions. The regulation of interest rates remains a policy area under active review.
- Leaders' Questions (30 Apr 2015)
Alex White: This has been the subject of correspondence between the Department of Finance and the Central Bank. The Consumer Protection (Regulation of Credit Servicing Firms) Bill 2015 will ensure that all mortgage holders will have the protection of the code of conduct on mortgage arrears and access to the Office of the Financial Services Ombudsman. The actions already taken by the Government to...
- Leaders' Questions (30 Apr 2015)
Alex White: The Deputy is well aware, and has not questioned what I stated, that there is no statutory power to direct a reduction in interest rates. If I am wrong in that, maybe the Deputy might correct me.