Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

-----relate to two other areas. Quite a short answer could be given to the first of them. We saw the Minister, Deputy Michael McGrath, speak recently about the fact, on which the witnesses themselves have commented, that monetary policy is now tightening in that money is more expensive. One of the things he said was that this is impacting on mortgage holders, businesses and the Government. Is it then the case that it will cost the Government more to access money now? I ask that in the following context. There was a time when we had access to, as was said, zero-interest or less-than-zero-interest loans at European level, for example. What do the witnesses think is the additional cost to the State of not having taken money at that point but, instead, having sought loans? What is the difference in cost between the State seeking to borrow now versus, for example, two years previously? Do the witnesses have figures on that or a sense of what that might be? I would like a verbal answer to that but I am happy to have a written piece on the position that has been taken on the crypto regulation as well.

I had one other very brief question but I have lost my note on it. I was also going to ask about the estimated progress on the senior executive accountability regime from the witnesses perspective. What do the witnesses believe the timeline for that coming through might be, and are preparations under way within financial institutions to ensure that this will be effectively implemented as soon as it does come into law?