Mr. Brian McCrory:

That is a part of it. The Central Bank is often keen to quote international comparisons. The reality is that many of the international movements were created on the basis and experience of the Irish movement; the sad reality is that they have been allowed to pass us at speed.

One third of their book is SME lending, one third of it may well be unsecured personal lending and the other third is either in the form of supporting social housing or other social objectives. The credit union movement in Ireland has been curtailed from evolving. It is not that long ago since the Minister for Finance stood up in the House and said that he foresaw a time when the credit union movement would be the third pillar of financial institutions on the island of Ireland, but I have yet to see action that would enable that to happen.