Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The only people the bank put back on the tracker rate in relation to the two-year fixed rate are those who had a tracker mortgage prior to fixing. These are a cohort of individuals who were on a two-year fixed rate and who may have had a variable mortgage beforehand. However, this communication said very clearly, in respect of existing staff mortgage accounts, staff who are currently on the two-year fixed will roll automatically onto the tracker. Bank of Ireland has made a decision at a corporate level that they are excluded. There is a reasonable expectation, if not a legal expectation, that they should be deemed appropriate. I know what is going on here. I know that Bank of Ireland did put some people on, but it was those who were on tracker first and then fixed. Then it was decided that they should be offered the tracker. However, I refer to those who were on a variable first and then on a two-year fixed. This communication told them they were automatically going to roll in to a tracker.

These people should be included. They are Bank of Ireland's own staff. They are the people who have to face people like me who are giving out because Bank of Ireland is closing branches and reducing staff. These are Bank of Ireland's own front-line workers. Will the bank re-examine this issue? It is not fair what is being done. If the witnesses were genuine about changing the culture of Bank of Ireland, being people-centric and trying to right the wrongs, and all of the language that we have heard here, then they need to put their money where their mouth is. This is wrong.

This speaks to me about a bank that has been dragged kicking and screaming into compensating and redressing 6,000 customers. The Central Bank forced Bank of Ireland to do that. No harm to Ms McDonagh, perhaps she would have done it. However, the Central Bank had Bank of Ireland's arm twisted up behind its back. They did the same with AIB. They were forced into that because of the work of this committee and the victims and the public outcry. There is no doubt that half of these people would not be back on the tracker mortgages if it was not for the shame that the Irish people have put bankers through. That includes what Bank of Ireland has done, and is still doing. That is the problem. Can the witnesses confirm that staff who did not have a tracker rate but went on to the two-year fixed rate, that Bank of Ireland said would automatically roll on to a tracker, are not deemed impacted today?