Mr. Gerry Mallon:

We make a mortgage lending decision on the basis of every individual case and a number of other things, such as the loan-to-value ratio, are important considerations of the risk to the bank and to the individual. We also take into account their income and the serviceability of the debt. The new rules reduce the minimum deposits for some first-time buyers but I would like to think we will continue to make prudent and responsible lending decisions.