Ms Annmarie O'Connor:

Our emphasis is on financial inclusion. In terms of the regulatory issues, the review of section 35 and the capacity for long-term lending is important. I also want to reiterate the importance of the personal micro finance loan, the "It Makes Sense" loan. When I look across at the UK, much research has gone into this area and many actual bodies have been set up by industry to examine responsible credit. There is no such analogous organisation here independent of the credit union movement. We have no real think tank on credit. Organisations such as ourselves can make inputs. Organisations such as the Social Finance Foundation have provided research for the credit unions on the "It Makes Sense" loans. There is no independent think tank, however, looking at building financially healthy communities in Ireland which is happening in the UK as part of the recovery. There is this gap and there is in-thinking. We need new thinking if we need to get innovation in the sector. We need to ask those most in need of the support the credit unions can provide about they want for the future.