Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Chairman. I thank Mr. Black and his colleagues for attending before the committee today. I want to start with the situation of Ulster Bank, which is a key lender in the SME food sector. In my analysis, it has been seen as the key bank to go to for small to medium-sized food companies seeking to access lending for productive purposes. I want to get a sense from Mr. Black as to, first, whether there is now a high level of exposure for that sector, given the decision of Ulster Bank to pull out of the market, and, second, whether SBCI is aware of this and if it is something that is on its agenda. If we take the two challenges of Covid and Brexit, as well as the importance of the food sector and the recognition of Ulster Bank as being a go-to bank for small to medium-sized food companies that are export driven, is there a consciousness within SBCI of the need to plug that gap in lending? Is this a conversation that is taking place at present? I would like to get that perspective from Mr. Black, if I may.