Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy would have received answers to the effect that the State was at arm's length from the banks and that we did not interfere in commercial decisions. The relationship framework sets out clearly that the political side should not interfere in commercial decisions. Consider when Anglo Irish Bank was nationalised or when, in the early days of this Government, I recapitalised PTSB, AIB and Bank of Ireland.

One of the main concerns of Deputies on all sides of the House was that commercial decisions would be commercial and they would not be influenced by political considerations. That was a very strong case advanced by everybody here and it is something that I am convinced was a proper decision, that there should not be political interference in commercial decisions in the banks. As I said in my reply, I have been informed that AIB has not at this stage confirmed any agreement to outsource some of its technology services but should it do so it will follow the agreements it has entered into with the Irish Bank Officials Association.

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