Ulster Bank debacle raises serious questions about Central Bank IT regulation

Michael Creed

Michael Creed

SPEAKING following the appearance of representatives from the Central Bank of Ireland’s Financial Regulation Division before the Oireachtas Committee on Finance today (Wednesday), Fine Gael Cork North West Deputy, Michael Creed, said the Ulster Bank debacle raises serious questions for the Central Bank in terms of the regulation of our banking sector’s IT systems.

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Creed calls for heightened level of debate on upcoming referendums

Michael Creed

FINE Gael TD for Cork North West, Michael Creed, has called on the Government, the Opposition and the media to engage in a proactive and visible debate on the forthcoming referendums on judge’s pay and on the powers of Oireachtas committees.

“It’s regrettable to say the least that these referendums have been so sidelined that  the public are barely aware that they are taking place in less than twenty days time. Amendments to the Constitution are matters of significant national importance and deserve to be receiving as much attention and publicity as possible, so voters are in a position to make an informed decision at the ballot box.

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EU should explore other options

Commenting following the EU’s decision to examine ways of ensuring greater fiscal stability, Fine Gael’s Spokesperson on European Affairs, Michael Creed TD, stated that the European Council President should explore options that would not necessitate fundamental amendments to the EU Treaties.

“Fine Gael agrees that there is a need for tighter fiscal plans to be put in place to ensure that the current crises across many EU States, including Ireland, do not re-occur.

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TD’s remarks “inaccurate and politically motivated” says minister

Batt O'Keeffe

Batt O'Keeffe

THE Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation, Batt O’Keeffe has said remarks by a Fine Gael TD Michael Creed on statutory redundancies are inaccurate and politically motivated.

Minister O’Keeffe said his officials were dealing with a large volume of claims due to the recession.

“The number of statutory redundancy claims has tripled in the past two-and-a-half years and I have deployed extra resources to clear the backlog. We have cut the number of claims by 11,000 in the past nine months – from 43,000 last November to 33,000 this month.

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Fair trade laws a better plan

Michael Creed

Michael Creed

FINE Gael agriculture spokesperson, Michael Creed today said the hostile opposition of big supermarkets to Government proposals for a voluntary code of conduct for the grocery sector shows the need for laws o outlaw unfair trading practices that are putting farmers out of business.

“Fine Gael published a Fair Trade Bill last summer which would have the effect of outlawing practices such as ‘hello money’ and other payments demands by supermarkets that are squeezing suppliers out of existence.

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40 per cent fall in farm income

ploughing-bridge-farmTHE Fine Gael Agriculture Spokesperson, Michael Creed TD, has said figures published today (Tuesday) by Teagasc confirm that farm incomes feel by 30 per cent last year and the overall decline in farm incomes since 2007 was 40 per cent.

“These Teagasc figures follow on from a Eurostat survey which showed Irish farmers are suffering more than others in the EU.  While EU farm incomes fell last year by an average of 11.6 per cent, Irish farm incomes fell by 30 per cent.

“Irish farmers are being squeezed out of existence by low prices, high costs and Government cuts.  Promises from Fianna Fáil to address the imbalance of power between retailers and food suppliers have so far come to nothing.

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Farm incomes slump

Michael Creed

Michael Creed

FINE Gael Agriculture Spokesperson, Michael Creed TD, said Eurostat farm income figures released today shows that the average fall in EU farm incomes is one third of the income drop endured by Irish farmers in 2009.

“The massive slump in EU farm incomes last year is confirmed in today’s Eurostat figures and it is clear that Irish farmers are suffering more than most. While EU farm incomes fell last year by an average of 11.6 per cent, Irish farm incomes fell by 30 per cent.  In fact Ireland’s farm income decline is the third worst in today’s survey, only behind Hungary and Luxembourg.

“Irish farmers are being squeezed out of existence by low prices, high costs and Government cuts.  Promises from Government to address the imbalance of power between retailers and food suppliers have so far come to nothing.

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Lost at Sea controversy

Michael Creed

Michael Creed

FINE Gael Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Spokesperson Michael Creed TD has said comments today (Thursday) by former Marine Minister Frank Fahey reveal the limited nature of the advertising of the controversial Lost at Sea Scheme.

Deputy Creed said this was a key element of the Ombudsman’s finding in favour of a complainant whose application was rejected.

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