Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We will have a further debate when our motion is tabled in the Dáil. I hear what the Minister is saying. He believes it will make it more affordable; almost everybody else says the opposite. The Government is in tune with the developers. Both of them claim it will make it more affordable but everyone else is saying it will actually do the opposite and will push up house prices. These are people without any political allegiances, including the Central Bank, the Secretary General of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the ESRI and other institutions.

Deputy Mairéad Farrell and other Deputies spoke about the impact Bank of Ireland's decision to close 103 branches will have on communities, on vulnerable customers and particularly on businesses. The evidence shows that when a branch closes, the credit lending growth reduces by two thirds. When it is the last branch in town, which is what is happening in many villages and towns as a result of the Bank of Ireland decision, the credit lending growth reduces by over 100%. This is happening at a time when we will need banks to support businesses to help to rebound on the other side of this pandemic.

I am sure the Minister will give the Civil Service answer about the framework relationship agreement. However, does he accept the Minister is entitled to express an opinion about what Bank of Ireland has done by deciding to close 103 branches across the island of Ireland in the middle of a pandemic?