Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)

Why should people be taxed for paying their bills or using their own money? The banks are paid by people and they impose heavy charges, legal or illegal. Everyone is aware of what happened in Britain last week when people's personal details, which were being stored electronically, were lost. The banks here sent out certain customers' information to other customers. Something similar also happened in Britain. Why should a person be charged, particularly when he or she is already paying the bank, for signing a cheque to pay money that they owe to someone else?

This week, farmers received letters from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which stated that under EU legislation they will be obliged to use banks from next year. The EU should mind its own business. Regardless of whether people want to use banking services, it is none of the EU's or anyone else's business. If I want to use the bank, I will do so, but nobody will tell me whether I should use the bank. The Ceann Comhairle is aware that on a wet day the banks will take away one's umbrella, while on a fine day they will make one a present of it. I have no sympathy for banks and I have no time for them. What we have been presented with is a deal reached between the Government and the banks.

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