Seanad debates

Thursday, 27 March 2003

Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland Bill 2002: Second Stage.

 

Will enough be done to achieve what is intended by the legislation? I take some encouragement from the structure proposed in the Bill to create a regulatory body that is separate from the Central Bank proper, even though it will be under the bank's control. We must ask, however, if the separation provided for will be enough to allow the regulatory body to pursue its agenda and ensure that customer service is the driving force in the process. I doubt if anyone can be certain that will be the case. The best we can hope for is that awareness of the need to prioritise the customer's agenda is kept alive. If we find over time that the structure this legislation puts in place is not effectively looking after customer interests, I hope we have the courage and determination to revisit the issue and put matters right. I welcome the Bill, but I do so with a degree of scepticism and concern mingled with hope that the Minister's obvious intentions will be achieved.

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