John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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I will read the following paragraph into the record because it tells one everything:

As one of the original PTSB 1,372 it would be hard for me to portray in words the effect that the past eight years have had on my life. Rather than being of help the past two years, since my account was identified as part of the redress scheme, have left me drained. The fight has all about but gone from me. I am now at the hurdle of the independent appeals process and unsure if I have the strength left to continue which I know is exactly what the bank hopes for. However, there is only so much a soul can take and this tracker issue affects every single aspect of your life. The appeals process has, in a nutshell, made me feel like I am on trial. I cannot tell you how many times I have wondered what I did wrong and why I am in this position. I am on trial because I am guilty of wanting to own my own home. I was robbed of my money each month while each month also repaying the bank every instalment they asked for. I never missed a payment but I am the one who is guilty. I am the one through this whole process who has had to repeatedly justify my position through an appeals process to the same bank that robbed me monthly. The banks broke the Customer Act 2007 and yet it is I, the consumer, who is guilty.

That sentiment rings through every single piece of correspondence that I have received. I would love to see the Governor, to the extent of the law and beyond, pressing these banks that have now, in my opinion, regained the same level of arrogance that they had before the crisis struck. I ask the Governor to understand the following.

The language that is being used on this is not informing the customer but is pushing them further away. The actions of the banks through legal processes and so forth are frightening the same customers. The banks should be dragged to the point of remedying the situation now. It is unforgivable that they would do this to ordinary people who did no wrong. That is my view. Thousands of letters have been sent to us.