Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)

The Central Bank of Ireland does not comment on exceptional liquidity assistance, ELA, operations and any queries relating to specific credit institutions would need to be directed to each particular institution. The Central Bank does, however, publish details of its liquidity operations at a system level. Any loans by the bank are contained in its balance sheet which is updated on a monthly basis as part of its monthly statistics. Table A2 in the balance sheet, Financial Statement of the Central Bank, highlights European Central Bank borrowings under the heading "Lending to Euro Area Credit Institutions relating to Monetary Policy Instruments" while exceptional liquidity assistance would be captured under the category "Other Assets". At the end of October, these amounted to €47.7 billion, down from a peak of approximately €70 billion at the end of February last.

Separately, table A4 in the balance sheet, Credit Institutions' Balance Sheet (A4.2 Covered Institutions ), highlights ECB borrowings under the heading "Borrowing from the Eurosystem related to Monetary Policy Operations". The covered institutions' figures are identified in table A4.2 and exceptional liquidity assistance to covered institutions would be captured in tables A4 and A4.2 under the heading "Remaining Liabilities".

Deputies will be able to access this information themselves as it is quite complex in the context of reading the Official Report.

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