Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)

I told them I would raise this issue under amendment No. 1, with the Ceann Comhairle's permission. These are decent and hard-working people, the backbone of the farming community in Donegal. However, as customers of Ulster Bank, their banking concerns are not covered by this Bill.

There are three banks in the village in which I live — Bank of Ireland, Allied Irish Banks and National Irish Bank. Only customers of the first two will be covered by the terms of this legislation. What we seek is a level playing field. I do not know how that will be achieved but I urge that there be some ring fencing so that depositors in banks other than the designated six will receive the same protection. If people withdraw their money from the other institutions, the people working there will be in a precarious situation. I ask the Minister to set people's minds at rest in this regard.

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