Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I spoke to the Attorney General in respect of that matter. The advice from the Attorney General was that Goodbody would not be subject to that charge. From a policy point of view, that particular charge was brought in with a view to it applying to our retail banks. Goodbody is a stockbroker, it is not a retail bank. I emphasise that following the decision I made, anybody who is working for Goodbody will continue to be paid in the way they were before the transaction happened. Anybody working for AIB will continue to be paid in the way they were before the transaction happened. I have been very transparent regarding the provision and procedures relating to the movement between both companies. The reason I decided to give my support to this purchase happening in the first place was because I believed that it was good for three Irish companies. I made this decision in respect of banking remuneration to facilitate a transaction that was good for those three businesses.