Mr. Aidan Carrigan:

The legislation had to be delicately drafted around this because as a European institution, it can be accountable only to the European Parliament and the European Council. Within the provisions, it is quite clear that national parliaments can ask questions of this body and the ECB has made it very clear in its commitment to Council that questions put to the body will be dealt with. If national authorities ask questions they will get replies and explanations. There is provision for any of the national authorities to seek to meet a member of the supervisory board, which we would expect to be the national member of the supervisory board and to ask questions of that person as well.