Catherine Noone (Fine Gael)

I join with the remarks made by previous Senators in regard to the Ulster Bank issue, in respect of which we are all agreed there has been a lack of communication and competence on the part of the bank to deal with its systems failure. Everyone is crying out for accountability in respect of the banking sector. It is hoped that this issue will be sorted out sooner rather than later and that there will be some accountability for this fiasco.

The Irish people have been treated with some disdain by Ulster Bank and its parent company. It is bad enough that the problem arose in the first instance and that there was a failure to communicate but it seems the bank was able to sort out the problem a lot faster in the UK than in Ireland, which I take great exception to. I agree with comments made by previous speakers in regard to communications generally from Ulster Bank. I hope that above all there will be some accountability and that the relevant Minister will call for this at the appropriate time.