Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I need to move on to another question as my time will run out. In his opening statement Professor Black talked about the ultra concentration of commercial lending is a tell to use poker analogy. He said that is a characteristic in the rapid model of growth. In relation to the ultra concentration of assets of other witnesses, we have had various reports done on behalf of the Irish Parliament on the concentration of lending in two specific banks. A total of 50% of the loan book of Anglo Irish Bank was in the hands of 20 individuals and Irish Nationwide Building Society had 51% of its loan book in the hands of 25 individuals. In Professor Black’s experience in the United States, would that type of concentration of commercial lending be unique or common?

If one came across such a concentration, what should one do? Should one ignore it or should it raise alarm bells? What should be the response?