Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the witnesses. I wish to mention a few points that regularly arise on a practical level. Mr. Hall referred to Danske Bank and Bank of Scotland. I have been hearing from many people about Danske Bank in the last few weeks, where the bank has become extremely aggressive, in some cases involving the family home. It is moving with receivers overnight. I have one case where the individual is two months in arrears. He brought the payments up to date but the bank still appointed a receiver. In this case he could lose his family home because it is linked with a business asset which has equity, but ultimately it can be got back in terms of the family home.

Danske Bank is effectively what was National Irish Bank, which was a long established bank with a network throughout the country. Bank of Scotland is slightly different in that it emerged from an equity bank so it is a slightly different model. We therefore have people coming out of an Irish banking system. I have had two cases in the last two days where the people are literally not sleeping at night. They brought their arrears up to date. In one case the receiver has been appointed and in another case we are trying to find a way around it. What is required to be done? These banks are seeking to clean up their loan books over the next number of months. Is the issue of the institutions seeking to clean up their loan books impinging on how they are dealing with people on the ground?

Danske Bank is a big worry for me in both cases. In one of the cases the person is a farmer who banked with National Irish Bank all his life. The other person is in business but, once again, is worried about the family home. The bank appears to be appallingly aggressive.