Neasa Hourigan (Dublin Central, Green Party)
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I would also like to speak in favour of the motion. We have, by consensus, agreed to support it at the budgetary oversight committee. The past year has been very difficult for banking in the State. We have seen KBC and Ulster Bank retreat from the Irish market. In the past we have looked at public banking in the State, when we had a much more active pillar bank sector. Considering the issue of financial inclusion in this country, considering the impact on SMEs of Covid and Brexit, and how important it is for them to have access to credit, it is very important that we would really take a long, hard look at our banking sector. This would be a very useful thing to do.