Mr. Patrick Sharkey:

We acknowledge that banks are commercial entities and they will point out that this is not their fault either. One of the things our group has spent a bit of time examining is that where there is a societal or social need, the Government has a track record, through the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland and other initiatives, of providing funding for people in need through fresh start mortgages and so on. Where homeowners, including pensioners, are facing a shortfall, we are pointing out that the Government has got involved in providing facilities and finance where there is a social or societal need. To answer the question of how we bridge the gap, or how banks and our financial group bridge the gap for older people, we do not know. Ultimately, it is a big problem.