Gerry Horkan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

There is a reference in the report to over-optimism and banks stating: "Look at where we came from, are we not fantastic?" I get the impression from the representatives of various banks who come before the committee that there is a certain lack of humility. Okay, some of the management teams are different and there are new people there who I suppose have to try to sell themselves as best they can, but I do not get the impression that they realise just how badly hit people individually were. We have many people coming to us and various members have heard really traumatic stories not just of people losing their homes but taking their own lives because of what happened during the crash. Some of it was at least partly the result of the pressure exerted by the banks and receiving telephone calls six, seven or eight times a day. I do not get the impression, even with all of the culture reports and so on, that the banks have the humility they should have based on how much they cost us. We have not had representatives of Anglo Irish Bank here, but every bank was culpable to a greater or lesser extent. I would be very concerned if there was over-optimism. Will Professor Lane expand a little more on that issue?