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

I am not saying anything about that. I made a straightforward point. This matter has arisen for all institutions. We deal with the public like banks do but in a different capacity. A worrying feature has arisen. There is a danger that the banks are becoming bloodhounds for positive equity within loans.

There is a danger that people in arrears with their mortgage repayments are at a disadvantage if their home is in positive equity. When a customer is in arrears and the bank sells the asset that is in positive equity, the capital ratio will increase as they are taking a risk rated asset off the balance sheet.