In answering the Deputy's question, I should note that a recommendation to pay dividends is the sole responsibility of the board and management of the banks. I am precluded from intervening in commercial and operational decisions in any particular bank, even one in which the State has a shareholding.
I also wish to highlight that ECB guidance in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic in March and December 2020 impacted on dividend distributions for 2020 and 2021. AIB and BOI withdrew their proposed dividend for the year ended 31 December 2019 which was due to be paid in 2020. None of the banks paid a dividend during 2021.
The below table sets out the dividends received by year and institution for each of the past three years.
Dividends Received (€ million)
|
AIB
|
BOI
|
2020
|
0
|
0
|
2021
|
0
|
0
|
2022
|
86
|
2
|
The dividend per share received from AIB and BOI in 2022 was 0.045c and 0.05c respectively.