Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 February 2018
157. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the way in which compensation under the tracker examination process takes account of money and time spent in the insolvency process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9323/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Central Bank has advised that its Tracker Examination is focused on ensuring that lenders provide fair outcomes for all customers impacted by tracker related failings both from a contractual and transparency perspective.
As part of the Examination framework, where customer detriment has been identified, the Central Bank has clearly articulated its expectations of lenders to provide appropriate redress and compensation to impacted customers in line with prescribed Principles for Redress. The provision of redress is intended to return impacted customers to the position that they would have been in had the relevant issue not arisen and the compensation, which is to be reasonable, must reflect the detriment involved arising from and/or associated with being on an incorrect rate. Such compensation is to reflect the specific circumstances of each impacted customer.
An important part of the Examination Framework is the requirement for lenders to establish independent Appeals Panels, specifically to deal with customers who are not satisfied with any aspect of the redress and compensation offers that they receive from lenders. The appeals process is additional to the options of bringing a complaint to the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman or initiating court proceedings. Importantly customers can also accept the redress and compensation offered and still make an appeal to the independent appeals panels. Customers’ rights to make appeals to the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman and through the courts are also preserved.
For debtors who are involved in the statutory insolvency frameworks, the assets and income of such debtors will fall to be considered in the context of the particular framework including, where applicable, the particular terms of any debt settlement or personal insolvency arrangement entered into by a debtor (utilising the services of a personal insolvency practitioner) with his/her creditor(s).
