Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

The bank has no way of knowing where the bank draft is if no one presents it. The person to receives it does not have to have a bank account, which creates difficulties. The point is made in terms of investigating the matter to determine the extent of uncashed bank drafts, what are the ownership issues, what advice can be obtained from the Attorney General and what should be the period of dormancy. A number of issues need to be examined. IFSRA is following up the matter and, as soon as it reports back, we can set in train a process to see how the matter can be resolved. If dormancy can be established, what we have done in regard to dormant bank accounts provides us with a model, perhaps not the exact model, which will ensure these moneys are put to good effect.

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