Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas le Mr. O'Connell for coming in today and having this discussion with us. It is a disaster for the workers of Ulster Bank. It is obviously a disaster for customers and it is going to be a disaster for regional and rural Ireland, especially that last paragraph Mr. O'Connell discussed, which shows the traction of the physical presence of all the banks. It is shocking, given what the workers in Ulster Bank have done over the difficult past ten years to keep the show on the road when the bank was under such pressure, that the workers have been kept in the dark. It went on until the last second and it is outrageous. For me, this is part of the dysfunctional banking market we have. The fact we have a duopoly in this country is making it increasingly difficult for workers and customers.

Have there been any negotiations with NatWest to date? Is there any structure in place for those 47 workers who are at immediate threat of redundancy? Has the Government provided any supports or actions to date with regard to the predicament the Financial Services Union is in? Have any details emerged from the bank in its negotiations with Permanent TSB or any other banking organisation? I do not know if Mr. O'Connell has heard of a danger of vulture funds being involved in the purchasing of elements of this bank. Has he heard anything in that regard?