Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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I thank Mr. Blažek for a comprehensive response. My next question is in two parts. One relates to non-performing loans. We know KBC has sold non-performing loans related to 5,000 buy-to-let homes to a vulture, namely, CarVal, to be administered by Pepper Finance. Mr. Blažek will be mindful that the deputy governor, Ed Sibley, said in November 2019 that:

The Central Bank does not have a preference for loan sales. We have a preference for sustainably reducing non-performing loans. ... Banks need to engage with their customers in a sensible and proactive manner with a view to finding long-term solutions that work for both parties.

I am of the view that is not happening. As a bank that is leaving the market, does KBC see this suite of repayment arrangements as options or requirements on the bank? They are not followed by all banks. Some banks only choose a number of them as options for the customer; others have a different suite of options.

The second part of the question relates to Mr. Blažek's comments, which were interesting. I was thinking of the future of banking forum. We have long called for the establishment of such a forum to look at how banking is evolving, what is needed for the future, how fintechs are playing and all of that. As a bank that is withdrawing from the Irish market, what advice would KBC have for the State on attracting a new bank? What issues would need to be overcome? There has been discussion on the level of capital banks have to hold as a result of the crash and whether they are fit for purpose in the long term. There are issues relating to how technology is evolving and so on. What would need to happen for Ireland to be in a better position to attract new entrants, whether KBC in the future or another bank?

What was KBC's relationship with the Central Bank? Over the past year or year and a half, how many formal meetings has KBC had with the Governor or deputy governor of the Central Bank to discuss the bank's decisions?