Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. O'Connell for coming before the committee again. It is very clear that all of the issues he had previously flagged to us have come to pass. I also agree that it is clearly not plausible that this decision was only made last week. I was struck by the fact that Ulster Bank disbanded its sustainable banking committee in December. This really points to the idea that sustaining the business has not been a priority since December and that it was really more the manner in which it would withdraw.

Will Mr. O'Connell elaborate on a couple of key issues? He mentions his concern that there may be compulsory redundancies this year. Will he clarify what he needs as regards assurances on the question of compulsory redundancies, how they might be avoided and how it can be ensured that any redundancies in the future are proper redundancies?

I know there had been plans regarding senior executive accountability but it has not progressed. What should we be driving forward in that senior executive accountability regime, specifically the question of responsibility mapping for senior decision-makers and governance? Do the witnesses have a sense of transparency about where responsibility for decision-making is in Ulster Bank?

Another concern which we will be discussing with Ulster Bank is about non-performing loans and distorted figures being used when addressing the question of non-performing loans. Have the witnesses concerns about a skewed assessment of the viability of different branches based on assessment over the past year with regard to transferring branches as viable businesses? Will they speak to what they think is important to ensure a picture skewed by the pandemic does not inform the decision-making and options presented for workers and the area? I say this as somebody who, very recently, perhaps coincidentally, was contacted by a polling company to ask how often I use my local branch of Ulster Bank. I said I use it once a month and the company asked if I do that right now. I said maybe not right now. It is an interesting point because we need to look to viability wherever possible.