Padraic Kissane appointed to board of Bank Culture Board!

Brendan Burgess said:
I have never heard Padraic Kissane arguing their case in public
Click to expand...

Hi Padraic

I am right in what I said. I have never heard you arguing the case in public. You may well have done so, but I just haven't heard it.

And that is not a criticism by the way. I was just explaining that I see these as the group which is most deserving which is still not redressed. You may well differ from me and see others as having a stronger case. And we are entitled to differ on this issue.

Brendan
 
Sarenco

Let's say that KBC asked me to serve on a Consumer Committee for the bank with two others. And we were to give feedback on how they were doing, what customers wanted and maybe to review actual complaints from time to time. And they paid me €30k to do this.

Obviously, I would make it clear that this would in no way impact on my campaigns against high mortgage rates and their policies of not passing on rate cuts automatically.

But would I be compromised?

Would you prefer to see me on that Committee or a representative from Edelman PR, the guys who set up the Irish Bank Culture Board and did the surveys and interviews for them?

The reality is that I could not do it. Because every time I called for repossessions to be speeded up for the sale to vulture funds to be allowed, then it would be pointed out that I was in the pay of KBC.

So if KBC asked me to serve on such a board, I should do it for free?

It's a tough place for consumer activists. I don't think that Padraic is in any way compromised because it's one step removed from the banks. But at the same time, he is lending his considerable credibility to a charade.

Brendan
 
I think the issue is that there isn't really an independent income stream for being a consumer activist.

There is a Consumers Association of Ireland which used to have a CEO you would hear frequently in the media. But AFAIK that depended on a lot of old people subscribing to their magazine. That business model is not long for this world.

Maybe someone could set up a Patreon account and look for small donations from lots of people. This works in the US, but Ireland is probably too small to really support this I think.
 
NoRegretsCoyote said:
But AFAIK that depended on a lot of old people subscribing to their magazine.
Click to expand...

That describes it brilliantly. I went to the AGM once or twice and I was the youngest person in the room.

I still subscribe to the magazine out of loyalty to the idea, but they don't even send out a magazine anymore.

But I am still an old person.

The Patreon account is a good idea. Ireland is a small place but thousands of people have got huge tracker redress from the efforts of a small cohort like Padraic and me and maybe they would part with a few bob to fund a consumer activist?

Brendan
 
Brendan Burgess said:
But I am still an old person.
Click to expand...


Brendan Burgess said:
The Patreon account is a good idea. Ireland is a small place but thousands of people have got huge tracker redress from the efforts of a small cohort like Padraic and me and maybe they would part with a few bob to fund a consumer activist?
Click to expand...

Social media makes it much easier to organise this stuff, but I don't think Irish people are really ready for this kind of small-scale giving.

Patreon also charges VAT in the EU. Most recipients unlikely to be able to claim that back!
 
It might be good if they compared the 'culture' of the two large banks.

In the last 40 years, which one suffered the following, and which one didn't?
  1. Almost went bust due to poor underwriting at its insurance arm
  2. Lost a half a billion from one rogue trader to poor controls
  3. Made a large settlement with Revenue due to DIRT evasion
  4. And not forgetting a near-100% state takeover due to brutal lending standards
 
PadKiss said:
As regards to other comments about the Board take a look at my record and maybe give a little bit of credit as many appear/remain ignorant of my efforts on behalf of all
Padraic
Click to expand...

Surely the Board should be judged by the difference it makes going forward ?
 
The views are interesting.

A few things that might be considered.

One is Company Law. The Directors are obliged to act in the interests of the Company - and there are statutory and common law obligations.
Two if you did not have bank representatives on the Board then they don't have obligations.
Three has anybody actually seen the objectives of the Company?
Four has anybody read any of Heneghan J judgments?
Five some comments calling it charade and PR should reflect as I think at least one of these suggested 'was that all you have' when it came to KBC and Mr Kissane.
Six there might be legitimate criticism of some of the specific Bank representatives
Seven Mr Weston's comments are entirely premature.
 
In fairness, P. Kissane did great work in highlighting the tracker issue a number of years ago and there are very many people who have benefited from his work. For this, he should be applauded.

Campaigns/projects/initiatives go through different phases. My personal view is that whilst P. Kissane was truly superb in the initial phase, I am not sure if he was quite as effective in later phases.
 
I would say he is still as superb as ever , But he never was and never will in my mind be a dodgy ambulance chaser,
He gets 10 out of 10 from me when I look at him up against others holding on to his coattails,
 
Last edited:
With all due respect Padraic is just one member of the entire board.
Do I think that he would be a good advocate? Definitely.
Do I think that his voice will be heard in the context of the other members? Uncertain.
Do I think that this board will be able to make a change? Unlikely.
That's not a reflection on Padraic at all. It's a reflection on the 'banking culture' and their lip service to date. Padraic is 1 person.
 
RETIRED2017 said:
There are other good people on there along with Padraic who are not passengers a little bit unfair,
Click to expand...
I'm sure none of the members are passengers. I simply doubt their ability to make a change. Which has been my opinion all along when it comes to this Board and campaign.
 
Mr. Justice John Hedigan, Chairman of the IBCB

Independent

Marion Kelly, Acting CEO of the IBCB
?
Angela Black, Chief Executive, Citizens Information Board

Independent

  • Professor Blanaid Clarke, McCann FitzGerald Chair in Corporate Law at Trinity College Dublin
Are McCann Fitz not mega clients of the banks?
  • Dara Deering, Executive Director and Head of Retail Banking, KBC Bank Ireland
Banker
  • Jane Howard, CEO, Ulster Bank
Banker
  • Padraic Kissane, Padraic Kissane Financial Services
Independent
  • Ger Mitchell, Group HR Director, Permanent TSB
Banker
  • Robert Mulhall, Managing Director, AIB Consumer Banking
Banker
  • Vincent Mulvey, Group Chief Risk Officer, Bank of Ireland Group
Banker
  • Gareth Murphy, Acting General Secretary, Financial Services Union
??
  • Philip O'Leary, Managing Partner, Head of Commercial Department, FitzGerald Legal & Advisory
Are McCann Fitz not mega clients of the banks?
  • Sue O’Neill, Chair of the Small Firms Association (SFA) and Managing Director of Shellcove (AMC)
Independent
  • Martin Stapleton, Chair of the Farm Business Committee, Irish Farmer’s Association (IFA)
Independent


14 people. 11 men. 3 women.

5 bankers. 2 from a Legal firm that are either bank clients or act for the banks I suspect. So 7.

Leaving out the Chairman and CEO there's 5 possibly independent/consumer side.
 

Congratulations Padraic. You've done trojan work for people. I'm delighted for you. As you know I've been around the block and I've never seen any change of culture ever in Irish banks. So I don't believe it. And the odds are stacked against you already. I hope I'm wrong.

I was in a bank in Waterford about a mortgage about 5 years ago. Met two right banking boyos. I said to myself that day that Ireland never learns. I honestly think banks hire these type of people deliberately. It's all about the money. For the boys and the bank. They are only laughting at us customers.

I was in a bank in Cork about a year ago. BofI I think it was. They are treating customers with contempt. A room space with no desks. You're supposed to stand there and deal with a staff member who comes out of a room, it was unbelievable.

My sister told me she's not allowed to lodge money or something now. They keep taking away any interaction with humans. They are treating us all as machines.
 
Bronte said:
  • Professor Blanaid Clarke, McCann FitzGerald Chair in Corporate Law at Trinity College Dublin
Are McCann Fitz not mega clients of the banks?
Click to expand...

She is an academic. Her seat is sponsored by a law firm. That does not compromise her independence at all.


Bronte said:
  • Philip O'Leary, Managing Partner, Head of Commercial Department, FitzGerald Legal & Advisory
Are McCann Fitz not mega clients of the banks?
Click to expand...

McCann Fitz might well be but what has that to do with this guy?
 
The AIB representative on this board needs to work harder in his own backyard to change the behavior of his bank given the recent FSPO decision on the prevailing rate issue.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register