Ms Debbie Byrne:

I want to answer one other question regarding the current account because it is quite important. The current account is one of the only products we operate ourselves under our own licence. I mentioned earlier that the loans, credit cards and State savings are operated with third parties, however, the current account is a product we operate under our own licence. When we launched the current account, which has had good growth on year on year, we engaged with the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection with a view to seeing whether there was an opportunity there to give people the choice of using it if they did not want to come in and get cash. There is definitely a requirement within the State in terms of the unbanked and how people might be missing out. For example, utility companies give preferential pricing if one pays online, and so on. There is a role there for a subsidised bank account, for want of a better word, which could also be used for TV licences and other services. As we give out nearly half a million free TV licences every year and various other allowances are given for fuel etc., there is an opportunity for the subsidisation of some of the fees on the current account. As part of our role, as Mr. McRedmond said, we would welcome working with the relevant Department to bring that unbanked sector of the population into the fold in order that they are not relying on loan sharks and so on.