Frank Feighan (Fine Gael)

I join my colleagues in condemning AIB. Its offer of an apology to its customers rings hollow. The banks cannot lose in such situations. As a business person, I was overcharged by a certain bank many years ago and I was relieved to get my money back after seven years. I did not intend to prosecute — I was simply relieved to get something back. I find it unbelievable that the bank will not face prosecution for overcharging. As a small retailer — Senator Quinn will agree with me on this — I know that if my scales are out of order or there is a problem with weights and measures I will be prosecuted. The legislation is there to deal with such matters. I agree with other Senators that legislation is urgently required.

This Government indirectly gave the banks the green light to carry out these activities by giving them a clean bill of health and not prosecuting in the matter of offshore accounts. Once again the banks and financial institutions were allowed to do whatever they wanted. I agree that the banks are outlaws. The only difference between the board of directors of AIB and Dick Turpin is that Dick Turpin wore a mask.