This week, I, along with my colleagues presented plans for a new and credible alternative to current debt-management services available to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Economic and Joint Regulatory Affairs.

I founded the concept in 2009 and have now a group of ambitious group, highly-qualified, self-employed Independent Financial Advisors from across the region ready to work with me on this venture.

This week, we sought cross-party support for its unique proposal to provide a realistic and resolution-focused service to those seeking urgent assistance from agencies such as the state-appointed Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) and valuable charities such as St. Vincent de Paul.

This concept was established in response to the urgent need for a new and pro-active body to assist with debt-management.  We recognise the considerable strain that many thousands of individuals and businesses find themselves in as a result of the current financial crisis. The proposed services are an alternative to MABS and NAMA.

The financial reality is stark for many families and businesses. With live register figures for the region currently running at 13%, we believe that the Government needs to seize the opportunity to offer a real and viable lifeline to individuals, communities and enterprises in need of immediate assistance as a result of prohibitive constraints and lending practices adopted by banks and other lending institutions.

Our concept aims to alleviate the serious financial pressures facing individuals and small and medium sized enterprises (SME) by offering a wide-range of services such as comprehensive one-to-one consultations, a complete financial analysis of the clients’ current position in conjunction with a highly-qualified and experienced team of advisors. Uniquely, we would also act as mediators between clients and financial institutions in an effort to obtain a satisfactory resolution between both parties. Ongoing access to open and honest, professional advice provided by a team with a genuine commitment to achieving financial resolution for clients will help to alleviate the burdens brought by the credit crunch.

We have already made presentations to influential and interested parties that have included Finance Minister, Brian Lenihan, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation, Batt O’Keeffe, Minister Mary Hanafin in her capacity as Minister for Social Welfare and the Mortgage Arrears and Personal Debt Expert Group.

Following our presentation to this Joint Committee Group I was interviewed on Newstalk 106FM, Tipp FM.  The Irish Times and Irish Examiner along with numerous regional papers were interested in our proposal and covered it in their publications.

Check out Newstalk interview on Wednesday 8th September – Part 1. Interview at 16 mins on following link: http://www.newstalk.ie/programmes/all/breakfast/listen-back/