Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I am familiar with the procedures and the possibility of complaints being made to the Data Protection Commissioner. I am also aware of certain complaints that have been made to the Data Protection Commissioner. Still, it should not be beyond the capability of the many officials that the Minister, Deputy Noonan, has at his disposal to read the newspapers of recent months to see the type of information that is being put out into the public domain. Clearly this information could only come from the banks or someone within the banks. It is outrageous and wilful; there is no question of a mistake or of it being accidental. The Minister of State should consider it in this light because I am not familiar with similar incidents in the private banks and it does not match the manner in which they conduct their business. There has been a sea change and a change of culture in the State banks and the Minister should take control of the situation. This goes beyond the Data Protection Commissioner.

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