Mr. Dargan Fitzgerald:

Certainly. Well, as I say, I was involved in 2007 and 2008. There may have been dealings with the regulator in previous years but I actually can't speak to that. I would be happy to check that and come back to the committee, if that was required. In 2007 and in 2008, I think ... my recollection is that the dealings with the regulator were exactly as you mentioned and as, I think, other testimony confirmed. In terms of a joint meeting between the regulator and meeting or meetings between the regulator between representatives of the big four firm, possibly in one case under the aegis of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland. I feel those meetings were very fruitful, in a broad sense, very informative. From the account of those meetings - I don't think I was at either of those meetings personally, but colleagues reported to me in writing and verbally about them, of course, as they were very important matters - and I feel that the regulator was anxious to listen to any of the commentaries on the ... what, even in the earlier of those dates, was an involving credit crisis - it was called a credit crunch at that time - and was also able to give the firms some high level briefing without, of course, dealing with matters relating to any individual institution, to give a high level briefing, in terms of the stance of the regulator in relation to any aspects, and in any ... in later meetings to confirm the effect and intention of the Government guarantee, in other words, to stand behind the Irish domestic banks. That was a very important matter for the later consideration of going concern, as my previous comments mentioned.