Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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184. To ask the Minister for Finance if his Department or the Central Bank of Ireland have made representations to the banks in respect of problems being encountered in respect of SEPA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17610/14]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I have been informed by the Central Bank that as of end-March some 96% of credit transfers and direct debits have migrated from the domestic payment system to the new SEPA credit transfer and SEPA direct debit schemes. Ireland is one of the leading countries in Europe in terms of its compliance with SEPA regulation 260/2012.

During the peak migration period of January to March a number of issues have arisen, mainly in relation to delays in the processing of direct debits to customer accounts by direct debit originators. An originator is a company or organisation that is authorised to collect direct debits directly from bank accounts. Typically originators will be utilities such as electricity, gas and telephone.

The Central Bank has informed me that the majority of incidents related to issues on the part of direct debit originators. According to the Central Bank, issues that occur between originators and their customers are outside the scope of the Central Bank's remit and are governed by the relevant terms and conditions entered into between creditor and debtor and the originator's adherence to the SEPA scheme rules which are administered in Ireland by IPSO.

I have been informed by the Central Bank that in a minority of cases the error has been attributable to issues within the banking sector. The Central Bank is working closely with the banks and the Irish Payment Services Organisation (IPSO) in relation to issues emanating from that sector.