Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On the deadline I have set in regard to conclusion of the matter overall, I have referred to March in the different statements I have made on the matter but I stress that my strong view is that everybody should be given both redress and an initial offer of compensation as soon as possible. From the information I have received from a number of the banks, they are meeting the deadlines set with them by the Central Bank. There is one bank in particular, Ulster Bank, as well as KBC, whose payments will continue into this year. I want everybody to be repaid and compensated as soon as possible but the March report will give me the point at which I will evaluate whether those commitments have been met.

I should have said, and I agree with the Deputy's point, that when I referred to the committee it was not just the efforts of the committee members here but that some of the hearings here over a prolonged period crystalised the distress that many people were feeling. However, what our efforts collectively have shown is that the issue has grown. While I do not expect the total number of people who have been affected to grow by the same quantum the Deputy has just raised with me, when I get the figures from the Central Bank in March there is the possibility that they could be higher than the figures he has referred to because there is an investigation under way. However, I would be gravely disappointed if it was a change of the magnitude I have just outlined to him.