Ms Mary Burke:

I can't actually remember the number of resources that were devoted to consumer protection and I have no issue with the consumer directorate ... or consumer protection directorate being adequately resourced. I think all directorates, both prudential and consumer, need to be adequately resourced. There was a particular focus in IFSRA post its establishment on the consumer protection area. I think, even in the documents you've given me, I chose to look back at the agendas of various authority meetings ... and, yes, there probably was a greater focus at that level at that time on consumer protection. But I think it needs to be borne in mind that IFSRA was a new authority, so there was a lot of agenda items to do with establishing that authority and budgeting, etc. And, perhaps, not unsurprisingly there was a particular focus on consumer protection at the time. But we do have to remember why IFSRA was set up. I suppose, it was in response to consumer protection issues.