Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Independent) | Oireachtas source

When I teased this amendment out with the ILCU in order to understand what it was trying to achieve, it expressed concern that it would be priced out of the market by the pillar banks acting in a duopolistic manner. While they may technically be able to access these services, the providers would keep them out on cost. I consider the most relevant aspect of the amendment to be the phrase "cost effective". Perhaps the amendment does not belong in the legislation but I would welcome an assurance from the Minister that he will keep an eye on this area to ensure the small number of banks that remain do not act as a duopoly in order to price the credit unions out of these services.