Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

That decision to keep them open is very welcome. Let me finish on the key point of interest rates. Just like in the time of Covid, AIB’s customers are under huge pressure now. I note the fact the previous interest rate hike of 50 basis points was not passed on by the bank, and I think that was the right decision. It was asked earlier, but the bank's profits were €477 million in the first half of the financial year, its new lending increased by 20%, its total income increased by 8%, its net interest income increased by 2% and its balance sheet was further de-risked with a further reduction in non-performing loans, NPLs, which is welcome. I spoke earlier in regard to the decision or the driving force behind Dr. Hunt and the board, although I do not support some of those decisions on the selling off of NPLs. That said, AIB is in a strong position in the time ahead. It has increased its market share in the mortgage market, given the exit, it has grown its personal customer base and, in March, it announced it is going to start to pay back €213 million to shareholders through dividend payments and share buyback schemes. Is it not the time to again stand with AIB’s customers, recognising that its costs of funds are quite low, that it is not paying any interest at all on deposits at the moment, or I do not think so, and it is funding most of its lending from deposits? Is it not time to send a very clear signal to people who are really worried that it will be absorbing this latest round, as, to be fair, it has done in the past with the 50 basis point increase?