Mr. Shane O'Sullivan:

First, there was no obligation on us to provide the figures for quarter one, but we want to be transparent for the committee. That is why, off our own bat, we provided figures that were not requested. The Deputy is correct there is an increase in legal activity and that is a result of a number of factors. When we started this process, we worked quickly to find and identify customers we could help quickly to get back on track. We focused less on the non-co-operating customers at the outset. Therefore, what the Deputy is seeing is a catch-up in terms of our focus on non-co-operating customers in recent times.

I make the point again, that the start of a legal process does not link directly in any way to the ultimate number of repossessions. We have found that once we start the legal process, the level of engagement is 35% and we can find solutions for some 70% of those customers, solutions such as split mortgages and part capital interest. Therefore, where customers engage and work with us, they can remove themselves from the legal process. We are hopeful this will continue to happen as we work through these numbers. Both socially and financially, it is not attractive for us to see high levels of repossession.