Results 13,021-13,040 of 35,658 for speaker:Pearse Doherty

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Irish Water (8 May 2019)

Pearse Doherty: 1599. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the reason he has chosen to replace Irish Water commercial debt with State-funded debt; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19509/19]

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Apr 2019)

Pearse Doherty: Ar son Shinn Féin, guím beannachtaí na Cásca ar an Cheann Comhairle, ar Theachtaí agus ar Sheanadóirí, agus ar fhoireann an Tí go léir. I ask the Tánaiste to let the following quotes sink in: "He is confined to one room, and he tries to run out as soon as the door is open"; "I put on music so that the children can't hear the shouting and...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Apr 2019)

Pearse Doherty: In recent years, banks have been selling loans, including owner-occupier and buy-to-let mortgages, wholesale to vulture funds at knock-down prices. Figures provided by the Department of Finance to the Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach last week reveal that over €24 billion worth of loans have been sold to vulture funds at an average discount of...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Apr 2019)

Pearse Doherty: It is obvious the Tánaiste does not have a clue what is happening or what the role of the Central Bank is and what it can or cannot do. There is absolutely nothing that the Central Bank can do to stop vulture funds from issuing letters to mortgage holders telling them to clear their arrears within 30 days or receivers will be appointed because there is no law to prevent that. The banks...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Apr 2019)

Pearse Doherty: I did so yesterday.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Apr 2019)

Pearse Doherty: I did so yesterday and the Minister did not answer.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Data Protection Commissioner (18 Apr 2019)

Pearse Doherty: 128. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the penalties that can be imposed on a company for falsely informing clients that a data breach of their personal data had been reported to the Data Protection Commissioner when it had not been reported at the time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18105/19]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: No Consent, No Sale Bill 2019: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Apr 2019)

Pearse Doherty: I welcome both guests to the committee. Go raibh maith acu for their presentations, extensive submissions and case studies. Although I am the sponsor of the Bill, if one were to listen to much of official Ireland - the Central Bank, the Department of Finance and some others - one would have to believe there is no problem with these loans being sold to vulture funds and that everything is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: No Consent, No Sale Bill 2019: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Apr 2019)

Pearse Doherty: My next question is for Ms Barry or Mr. Joyce. The Department, and by extension the Minister, relies heavily on the analysis carried out late last year. This was addressed in FLAC's opening statement and in its previous submissions to the committee in respect of the conclusions that there is no difference in restructuring arrangements and so on. FLAC was part of that engagement and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: No Consent, No Sale Bill 2019: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Apr 2019)

Pearse Doherty: Deputy Michael McGrath spoke about the code of conduct on mortgage arrears, which is an important administrative protection, although there are doubts, which I share, about its legal enforceability and so on. Parking that to one side, is the real issue not that the vultures can take a different approach from the banks? This is not just my belief; I have evidence to back it up. I see from...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: No Consent, No Sale Bill 2019: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Apr 2019)

Pearse Doherty: I never want to defend a debt-collection agency. However, in fairness Cabot is acting under instructions from Promontoria Scariff, an entity only established for the purchase of these loan books. It has instructions to appoint fixed-charge receivers. I am aware of a case of multiple properties in positive equity and there is no problem in selling those properties, but Promontoria Scariff...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: No Consent, No Sale Bill 2019: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Apr 2019)

Pearse Doherty: The same people then say, "Pay your arrears in 30 days or we are taking your home."

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: No Consent, No Sale Bill 2019: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Apr 2019)

Pearse Doherty: It is the borrower.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: No Consent, No Sale Bill 2019: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Apr 2019)

Pearse Doherty: In fairness separate legislation, which we have also published, with the Focus Ireland amendment would deal with that. I wish to put three questions together. Some other solutions are out there. I questioned the Central Bank and AIB, for example, about sales to non-profit organisations rather than to vultures at a discount. We now know of 52% across the €24 billion portfolio that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: No Consent, No Sale Bill 2019: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Apr 2019)

Pearse Doherty: Fair enough.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: No Consent, No Sale Bill 2019: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Apr 2019)

Pearse Doherty: Part V was another good example of limiting the right to private property in terms of legislation passed by the House but it has also stood the test.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: No Consent, No Sale Bill 2019: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Apr 2019)

Pearse Doherty: Very good. That is interesting. I am not shy when it comes to criticising the banks when they need to be called out. It is worth acknowledging, however, that AIB has led in a number of areas, including the arrangement it entered into with IMHO a number of years ago. Other banks have followed its lead. AIB was the first bank to talk about debt write-downs for borrowers, which other banks...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: No Consent, No Sale Bill 2019: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Apr 2019)

Pearse Doherty: I ask Mr. Hall to talk about the significance of the Pepper letter and the offer of €236,000. Was that made from iCare in order to purchase the home on a mortgage-to-rent basis? Pepper rejected the offer. What was the significance of the sum offered by iCare and the rejection of that offer?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: No Consent, No Sale Bill 2019: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Apr 2019)

Pearse Doherty: I welcome anything that is helpful to scrutinise this Bill further. My views are well known. I want to ensure that this gets through as speedily as possible, but with the proper views having been heard. We have sought the views of many others who have given us written submissions. I am eager to do that, if it can be arranged as soon as possible. We need to draw a line.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: No Consent, No Sale Bill 2019: Discussion (Resumed) (18 Apr 2019)

Pearse Doherty: The Chairman has in mind a looser engagement here as opposed to structured questions.