Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I will bear Deputy Spring's comments in mind. There are two national interests, which are not always in line. One is the individual difficulties of mortgage holders and other creditors of banks. It is in their interest to have low interest rates. On the other hand, as we are effectively the sole owner of AIB, the other national interest, which is the taxpayers' interest, is to ensure the banks become profitable so there is value in the shareholding held by the taxpayer. When we look at the level of charges and interest rates applied by the banks, the consideration on behalf of mortgage holders contradicts the consideration of making banks profitable. It is a difficult matter.