Mr. Ed Farrell:

There used to be a band for assets under €10 million. During the restructuring in the past couple of years, credit unions in that band felt a lot of pressure to merge with a bigger neighbour. Now that band is for assets worth under €25 million. Those in it fear there will be pressure put on them to continue. We are all in favour of full voluntary transfers of engagements, whereby the board of the smaller credit union, perhaps in the village or smaller town, voluntarily engages with the county town credit union or a bigger credit union that is reasonably close geographically. If it is a matter of two voluntary boards of directors coming to a good conclusion to the joint benefit of all their members, we are all in favour of it. We do not like to see undue pressure being exerted just because of the size of the balance sheet.