Bank of Ireland should listen to Minister Noonan and Civil Society Groups

Irish Senior Citizens welcome the intervention by  Minister for Finance Michael Noonan TD & Call on Bank of Ireland to initiate a dialogue with all stakeholders

The Irish Senior Citizens Parliament (ISCP) welcomes the intervention of Minister for Finance Michael Noonan T.D. in respect of the unilateral decision by Bank of Ireland to alter the arrangements for customers.

Commenting Mairead Hayes CEO said

I welcome the intervention by Minister Noonan and his request to the bank to clarify how they will handle and assist vulnerable customers. I am concerned that where Bank of Ireland leads today, others may follow tomorrow. There is a need to regulate the method and manner in which banking services are delivered and the related audit trails,

Continuing she said

I ask him to act now to get the bank to cancel its proposals and to initiate a discussion regarding a service for the future which will take the country and all its citizens to a secure system which is efficient and user friendly.

Older people welcome the advances technology has made in all aspects of their lives. However there are serious concerns about the security and reliability of some of the technical systems in use in some companies. The ISCP are aware of the measures in Budget 2016 to encourage a move from cash to cards. However setting limits of €700 for in-person transactions displays a lack of knowledge of the position of many vulnerable people.

ENDS

For further information contact Mairead Hayes
4th November 2015