Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

This allows for the Central Bank to determine if there is a local area deficiency and some people would make the point that if there is a criteria of 10 km in the legislation and if the bank is of the view that a person is within that 10 km, then it would be hard to argue that there is a local area deficiency. This may fall in on Tory Island if they decide to take away the ATM machine. It could be argued that there is a local area deficiency even though Machaire Rabhartaigh is 10 km away.

If the bank is closing down the ATM machine or if one of the banks closes a retail branch and an ATM machine goes with it but if you still can access an ATM within 10 km, I would imagine it would be very difficult to argue a local area deficiency using these criteria that are before us. It is an exceptional measure is it not?