Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 74: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties created for young people who wish to open bank accounts, who find that passports and social welfare cards are not accepted as significant evidence to open accounts in fulfilment of the requirements of Government legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19152/07]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Section 32 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1994 requires financial institutions to take reasonable measures to identify their customers. Recommended procedures for the implementation of this provision are set out in Guidance Notes issued under the aegis of the Money Laundering Steering Committee which is chaired by the Department of Finance and includes representatives of financial services industry bodies, the regulatory authorities and State Agencies, including the Garda Síochána.

Identification of a customer comprises two elements. These are name verification (typically evidenced by photograph — bearing document such as passport, driving licence or other reputable source document) and address verification. Paragraph 28 of the Guidance Notes states that any measures adopted by credit institutions should not deny a person access to financial services solely on the grounds that they do not possess certain specified identification documentation. Paragraph 45 of the Guidance Notes provides for those persons who cannot reasonably be expected to produce certain forms of identification, such as a person who does not have a passport or driving licence and/or whose name and Irish address does not appear on a utility bill, electoral register or directory.

The alternative methods of address verification set out in the Guidance Notes include; Letter/statement from a person in a position of responsibility (e.g. a solicitor, accountant, doctor, minister of religion, teacher, social worker, community employment scheme supervisor) who is in a position to confirm the person's address to the credit institution. In such instances the person providing the letter/statement must present themselves to the relevant credit institution providing proof of their own identity and verifying their status to the credit institution. Documentation/ cards issued by a Government Department showing the address of the person. Normally difficulties arising at account opening are resolved by an approach from the prospective customer to the branch management or to the bank's customer service department. The full text of the Money Laundering Guidance Notes for Credit Institutions is available on the Department of Finance website — http://www. finance.gov.ie/ Publications/otherpubs/monlaun.htm