Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I submitted No. 11 but it makes sense for me to intervene now. During the discussion on the whole-of-government approach, I suggested that post offices and credit unions need to get much closer. We could work towards a people's bank in every post office. That may not be an appropriate issue for the Minister of State but the working group should consider legislation relevant to credit unions because, between that legislation and the role of the Central Bank, there is a risk of losing the ethos of credit unions. It seems we are trying to make small banks that will not be fit to compete with the commercial banks. Will the working group take this on board? Will it consider what I have asked about, which is the potential for post offices and credit unions to set up functioning local people's banks?

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