Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

When Mr. Richard Boucher of the Bank of Ireland appeared before this committee a couple of months ago, a question was put to him as to what distinguished a public interest director from any other director on the board. Mr. Boucher's response was that they are not elected. That is the only difference. Under company law, every director of the bank has the same obligation, which is to serve the bank.

The public listening in here this afternoon want to know what public interest directors have been doing in terms of their needs, whether they are small and medium enterprises or distressed mortgage holders. I will now direct my questions to that area. Have there been occasions when Mr. MacSharry - this applies to Ms Hayes as well - could present particular situations or instances where, in his view, he has acted as a public interest director in carrying out his task? Can he give us examples of that?