Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 June 2019
156. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Finance if he will request the Central Bank to explore the option of using the revenue from the recent tracker mortgage fines to establish a fund to support customers affected by the tracker mortgage scandal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23573/19]
View answerSince 2013, the Central Bank’s practice is to remit the value of all monetary penalties in full to the Exchequer and, thereby, ultimately to the citizens of the Irish State. The treatment of fines related to the Tracker Mortgage Examination will be remitted to the Exchequer in full in the same way.
This practices arises from when, in 2012, the Central Bank consulted on the treatment of income resulting from monetary penalties, in its public consultation [CP61] "Consultation on Impact Based Levies and Other Levy Related Matters". The consultation paper, submissions and feedback statement are available at the following link: https://www.centralbank.ie/publication/consultation-papers/consultation-paper-detail/cp61-consultation-on-impact-based-levies-and-other-levy-related-matters
Customers impacted by tracker morgtgage related failings are being provided with redress and compensation by their lenders. The latest information [1] is that a total of €665 million has so far been provided to those impacted customers (including €47 million for redress and compensation to impacted costumers identified outside of the industry-wide examination).
97 per cent of identified and verified impacted customers (as at end December 2018) have now received offers of redress and compensation. Compensation levels are a matter in the first instance for the relevant mortgage lender and for the Central Bank (and if cases are taken to him the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (FSPO) or ultimately the Courts). However, it should be noted that the offer and payment of a sum by a bank for redress and compensation can be accepted by the borrower without prejudicing his or her right of appeal (either to the internal appeals framework as provided for in the tracker examination framework or ultimately to the FSPO and the Courts), and that the level of payment made upfront by a bank cannot be subsequently reduced in the Examination appeals process.
[1] As noted by the Central Bank Governor in his opening statement when he appeared before the Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach on 26 March 2019.
