Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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A great deal of interesting stuff came up after my own questions. What was very interesting and stark was the fact that if a branch closes, lending to the SME sector falls by 64%. This will obviously affect rural, more isolated and smaller places. I represent Galway West, which houses the likes of Connemara. I can see the impact this would have on the likes of Clifden. If Ulster Bank does withdraw from the market, has the FSU worked through a scenario regarding what could happen to branches and the loan book? What remedies would it suggest? Obviously, the SMEs are hugely reliant on it.