Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

In reply to Deputy Rabbitte's question, AIB is a global company. Its profit is sizeable and it is making considerable money. The Government would like to see more competition. The Bank of Scotland has come into the market and is taking a good share of it and I hope more such companies will enter the market. The Government has been supportive of An Post becoming involved in the financial area and thereby, on a community basis, helping customers in that area.

As the Deputy will be aware and I restate this point, there was a solemn agreement, which Governments are honoured to keep, that the bank levy would run for a period of three years and would then cease. That was the commitment made and the Government honoured it.

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