Aideen Hayden (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I do not want to be unfair about this but it seems the bank has a much higher proportion of properties in negative equity in its buy-to-let portfolio so there is no loss to it in employing an interest-only option in a position of negative equity. That is why I seek these breakdowns. I want to be able to determine from the figures supplied the breakdown of the entire sheet between properties in negative and positive equity. There is a perception, which I am sure Mr. O'Sullivan would like to dispel if he can, that the bank is clearing positive equity mortgages in distress in order to improve its balance sheet. The perception was put forward by my colleague, who is no longer with us. While Mr. O'Sullivan cannot give us this information today, could he break down all the categories he has given us into properties in positive equity and those in negative equity? Thus we could see the treatments being deployed in situations where, clearly, the bank is not trying to mend its hand regarding its balance sheet, and in situations where that accusation could be made. I am conscious that Mr. O'Sullivan cannot answer now.