Irish Payment Services Organisation Ltd.

National Payments Conference 2008

Royal Hospital Kilmainham

Friday, April 18th

The 2nd National Payments Conference:

• Raised awareness of how Ireland compares with other countries
• Explored the barriers to financial inclusion
• Looked at some of the potential and innovative solutions that are available
• Addressed the future of payments in Ireland

Banks, businesses, consumer groups, payment service providers and many other stakeholders in the Irish payments business participated to explore the future of the Irish payments industry.

Attendees:

• Discovered which payment mechanisms can help improve business and national competitiveness
• Were shown the impact of regulatory and other changes, such as SEPA (Single Euro Payments Area), on business and personal payments
• Heard about new and innovative payment services that are emerging around the world
• Learned what Ireland can gain, and what it will take to get there
• Found out how Ireland compares to other countries and what progress has been made in recent times
• Discovered that all of Ireland’s citizens are afforded the opportunity to avail of the products and services that are on offer

Speakers:

EU Commissioner Charlie McCreevy headed up a list of national and international expert speakers that provided a revealing insight into the payments business both in Ireland and around the globe.

Other speakers included: 

• Professor Elaine Kempson CBE - Director, Personal Finance Research Centre, University of Bristol
• Mr. Pat McLoughlin - Chief Executive, Irish Payment Services Organisation
• Mr. Paul O'Brien - Head of Policy and Oversight Unit, Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland
• Mr. Juha Risikko - Senior Product Manager at Nordea Private Netbank
• Mr. Paul Smee – Chief Executive of the U.K. Payments Council
• Mr. Ron van Wezel - Senior Vice-President ABN AMRO Bank and Chairman of Mobey Forum

In addition, there were two Q&A sessions that afforded all participants the opportunity to take an active role in the conference. Two expert panels dealt with Innovation in the Payments Business and Financial Inclusion, looking at what new products are in the pipeline, how they can affect ‘bottom line’ and how to ensure that all Irish citizens can avail of them.

“...a best in breed payments environment which delivers efficiencies to all sectors of the economy, is inclusive of all sectors of society, and shares the benefits universally”

    Mission Statement of the National Payments Advisory Group