John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I want to clear up a matter with Mr. Masding.

On 26 October, I was on "Morning Ireland" citing figures from the Minister's press release of the day before. The bank's hired hand called in to say that I was giving wrong information and asserted that the interviewer and I had made incorrect suggestions on this point in recent times. I do not mind having a direct exchange with the bank here and I do not mind that exchange being robust, but I do take exception to a bank that is under this type of scrutiny sending out a sniper to take me out just because I was quoting the Minister's comments. The bank would be better off if it took the money that it pays these firms to keep an eye on matters and applied it to its staff. I did not like the attitude of the bank in that regard. I certainly did not like the attitude of the individual who contacted RTÉ and with whom I spoke later that morning. I do not mind us having exchanges here, but I take exception to people trying to muddy the waters when they are not prepared to go on the same radio show as me to discuss the matter or defend their numbers or position. It was a cowardly act.

I will turn to the matter of Permanent TSB's customers, who appeared before us. Since they outlined their position to us, nothing seems to have happened in their cases. The witnesses will not discuss individual cases, but these cases have been made public with the consent of the bank's customers. I will, therefore, do as Senator O'Donnell suggested and give the witnesses the opportunity to respond directly to us regarding the customers whom they have heard giving outlines of their circumstances to this committee. I will provide the information to the witnesses after the meeting to ensure that there are no crossed wires.

As Mr. Masding and Mr. Mitchell were speaking, the number of text messages that came through and their content told a story. The banks have a way of using words at this committee. They certainly have a way of painting a picture that gives the impression of everything being okay and they are on top of their game. I use my time on this committee to try to bring them back to their customers. What the witnesses said in their opening statement and in their answers to members' questions has caused outrage among many people. For example, one texter wrote about being livid listening to "this rubbish" and that resistance was the position of the bank. Something else that caused issue was Mr. Masding's standing by the approach of his team and how he stuck up for Permanent TSB. His bank's customers are writing to us asking us to stand up for them because they believe that they are not being listened to.

Mr. Mitchell outlined what happened at oral hearings and so on. Someone who attended an oral hearing today said that none of what he outlined was offered to him or her. That person simply wants him to know that that is the case. In a different situation involving a repossession, no money has been paid to the client. That information was received during the course of this meeting.

I will turn to some of the other customers who have written to us. I do not know how these loans were sanctioned. When a mortgage was sanctioned in 2004, would the bank have asked about or insisted on mortgage protection?