John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Rather than sit here now and argue the toss with Mr. O'Keeffe, which I will not do, I am going to ask the committee next week when we are discussing our work programme to put this as a main item on the agenda to bring about a resolution. The members may not like it, and AIB may not like it in terms of the resolution that might be found but, for God's sake, the agents were there with the EBS. Why would AIB hang them out to dry? Why does it not make the process simple and less legalistic? I understand there will be legal issues in it but it is not beyond the bank to find a resolution to it. It would mean that we will not be discussing this repeatedly. The next step will be to have a full hearing here with the tied agents and then to ask for a response from the bank. The bank has all the machinery at its disposal; these agents do not. They do not have the money or legal backup the banks would have but they are reasonably determined. I am anxious to see fair play in this.

I will go back to Dr. Hunt who said the greatest single strength is treating everyone fairly. If that is the greatest strength to the bank then it should please treat the EBS tied agents fairly. That is what I ask the bank to do. I will leave it at that. We can come back to the issues again. Mr. O'Keeffe might come back to me on the insolvency issue, however. If AIB makes its submission on banking for the future available as much as it can, it would be helpful to the committee. I thank the witnesses for their time today.