Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Tuesday, 2 March 2021
Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach
Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 11 - Office of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (Revised)
Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances (Revised)
Vote 14 - State Laboratory (Revised)
Vote 15 - Secret Service (Revised)
Vote 17 - Public Appointments Service (Revised)
Vote 18 - National Shared Services Office (Revised)
Vote 19 - Office of the Ombudsman (Revised)
Vote 39 - Office of Government Procurement (Revised)
Vote 43 - Office of the Chief Government Information Officer (Revised)
Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source
Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit. Obviously we need to have a system in times of pandemic, but we do also need to be careful. When one sees that this company then went for another tender, it is very concerning.
I have one final question on expenditure for the Minister because I know other members need to get in. Previously the Government put €4.7 billion into Bank of Ireland and, as a result, now has a 14% shareholding in that bank on behalf of the people. We have seen the news, which I am sure we can all agree is very disturbing, that 103 branches will be closing, North and South. This affects mainly isolated and rural areas. The national recovery plan is based on balanced, regional development. With these bank branches closing in the more isolated and rural areas such as Oughterard, County Galway, surely this is not good for balanced regional development. What can the Minister do with regard to this happening?
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