Ms Derval McDonagh:

I will pick up on the issue that has been raised about the 40 compulsory redundancies that exist today. Several members raised that point. To put it in context, Ulster Bank restructured part of its business last September and, as a result of that restructure, several people were at risk of losing their jobs. Some of those colleagues have secured other jobs in the bank, while others have left the bank on a voluntary basis. Several colleagues remain at risk of compulsory redundancy. It is important to emphasise that we continue to work with those individuals to secure alternative roles for them in the bank.

On the issue of the well-being of our colleagues, there is no doubting the impact of this decision and, indeed, the impact that waiting for it has had on our colleagues. We have quite a comprehensive suite of well-being supports for our colleagues, including mental, physical and financial well-being. It is an issue on which we were very focused for all of last year and on which we are particularly focused this week. That will continue into the weeks and months ahead. It is an issue into which we invest a significant amount of time. We will continue to build on these supports in the weeks and months ahead. We absolutely acknowledge the impact that this has had on our colleagues.