Bank Charges

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 January 2015

Tuesday, 27 January 2015

Ceisteanna (189)

Pearse Doherty

Ceist:

189. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance in view of the high number of young persons who have emigrated over the past number of years, if he will instruct the State-owned banks to carry out a review of inactive accounts to ensure that persons who have emigrated are not continuously being charged maintenance fees for accounts they no longer use or for overdraft facilities they are not using; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3333/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Finance

As the Deputy is aware, I have no direct function in the relationship between banks and their customers.  I have no statutory function in relation to banking decisions made by individual lending institutions at any particular time as these decisions are taken by the board and management of the relevant institution. A Relationship Framework has been specified that defines the nature of the relationship between the Minister for Finance and each bank. These Frameworks were published on 30 March 2012 and can be found at: 

http://www.finance.gov.ie/what-we-do/banking-financial-services/shareholding-management-unit/shareholding-management-unit

As the matter raised is a commercial and operational issue between the banks and their customers, I can confirm that I do not intend instructing the banks as suggested by the Deputy.