The question of how best to deal with the issues arising from combining the functions of prudential regulation and consumer protection was dealt with comprehensively in the report of the McDowell group. A number of options were examined. The group examined the issue of protecting the interests of clients of financial institutions, both at the level of protection of consumers' interests in the context of solvency and at the level of the individual consumer and his or her relationship with the particular institution. The relationship between these levels was examined, especially from the point of view of the obligations imposed under EU law in relation to the prohibition on disclosure of information to the relevant authorities on issues for which it had no statutory function. The ability to disclose information is very important, as seen in the DIRT inquiry. In the end, the expert group took the view that the consumer's interests would best be served by combining the functions of consumer protection and prudential regulation in one body.