John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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I thank Mr. O'Connell. By way of information, at our meeting this morning we noted that Ulster Bank and the Central Bank refused an invitation to come before the committee, pointing to commercial sensitivities and so on. I do not accept that, and neither did the committee. We will write again to the Central Bank asking that it appear before the committee to hear directly from us our concerns in regard to this matter and to explore with it the general banking scene and what is happening. Likewise, Ulster Bank refused to come before the committee. We will write to it again too asking that it come before the committee to deal generally with the questions raised by the Financial Services Union. It is unacceptable that the bank would not come before the committee. It is also unacceptable, I think, to the customers and to the employees of the bank that the FSU would be treated in this fashion. We have asked also that information that has passed between the committee and the bank and the Central Bank to date would be sent to the Minister for Finance. The committee, following its hearing, may very well decide to insist that the Minister intervene or, perhaps, come in here to explain what the view of the Government is in regard to this matter.

I accept what Mr. O'Connell is saying. It is entirely unacceptable and I am sure the committee will endeavour to support the FSU and do whatever we can for it.