He also stated that the cap applies in regard to credit unions, but that the ultimate sanction lies in the hands of the Minister for Finance. What can the Minister for Finance do in regard to the other financial institutions? On each occasion there is an imposition – this is happening in regard to the rather paltry €300 million levy imposed in the December budget by the Minister on the banks – it is inevitably passed on to the consumer. The banks pass it on and it is the consumer who pays at the end of the day. The Minister might use it as a way of garnering funds for the central Exchequer, but consumers actually pay whatever levies or taxes are imposed because banks protect themselves and their profits. Banks seem to have ample and ultimate power to do so.