Madam, – I am perplexed, annoyed and bemused at the recent fit-outs and makeovers that have been undertaken by Bank of Ireland and AIB branch offices in various locations in my home county of Wexford and other locations. Some of the premises I have been in are now very like the set of Star Trek’s USS Enterprise, with swishing doors, plate-glass and wall-to-ceiling carpet.
Are the managements of these two banks for real? Given the near- total dependence of these organisations on the State for their financial existence, why are they being allowed by the State to engage in such unnecessary and frivolous expenditure at this time, and what is the role of the public interest directors in the decision-making process?
Just as in the case of the banks’ performance-related bonus payouts, this just looks like business as usual for both organisations. It would be interesting to know the views of the newly-appointed Minister for Finance on this issue. – Yours, etc,