There are two banks exiting the Irish market in the coming months, leaving thousands of individuals and businesses looking for a new financial provider and home for their savings and investments. Will the Minister please inform the House what he and his Department are doing to support people who have to switch banks, to protect customers and, ultimately, to ensure the Irish banking sector is sustainable into the future?

This is a very important issue and was the subject of a retail banking forum convened in Tullamore a few weeks ago by me and the Department of Finance. I and my officials have engaged directly with the banks that are here and those that are leaving to make it clear this massive moment of change in the Irish banking system has to advance in the most orderly way possible. It is going to be a challenge. Critically, in recent weeks the Central Bank has met all of the banks to emphasise to them the need for a resource to be in place to manage all of the accounts that will be changing across the coming weeks and months. I appreciate the Deputy raising this issue because it will be a huge moment of change later on in the year, and my message to all of the banks involved is that they need to have the staff and focus in place to make sure the transition is implemented as smoothly as possible for the sake of their customers.