Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The MBNA Bank of America-Apollo operation in Carrick-on-Shannon is not only a local employer but a significant regional employer. As the Minister said, he continues to highlight that to potential investors. In the past two years, however, there has been only one visit to County Leitrim supported by the IDA and four visits to County Roscommon. Is it not more important at present to try to hold on to what we have? In that context, originally Bank of America said that it was moving out of its international credit card business because its intention was to focus on its core business. It pulled back from that in regard to the UK credit card business and has expressed its intention to dispose of it, but this limbo that has been created, from the initial announcement to the current situation, has led to significant job losses in terms of the operation of the UK loan book in the interim.

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