Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 July 2013
158. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No.191 of 11 June 2013 the reason the details sought per bank from 2008 are a matter of commercial sensitivity five years on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33043/13]
View answerThe Deputy refers in his question to an earlier related question to which I gave a written reply on 11 June, 2013. This reply was in response to the Deputy’s request then for details of the breakdown of covered liabilities by bank as of 30 September, 2008. The details sought by the Deputy were communicated to my Department on the basis that the information was confidential and as being commercially sensitive. I am informed by my officials that this continues to be the case and will be unless the information becomes a matter of public record. I am informed that release of commercially sensitive information such as that originally requested by the Deputy could result in Market Disclosure Issues for those banks that are listed companies in respect of any releases that are not made through appropriate channels.
The Deputy will appreciate that the information was provided on a confidential basis and that its release without the approval of the banks concerned would be a breach of trust and could damage the relationships between the banks and the Authorities with consequences for provision of information by the banks in the future.
The Deputy will be aware from recent replies to questions of a similar nature raised in this House last week that there is information in aggregate form on the breakdown of liabilities of the covered banks for the period in question, 30 September, 2008 and this can be accessed at the following web address: http://www.finance.gov.ie/documents/publications/reports/2011/nybergreport.pdf
