AIB Bites the Hands that Feeds it – Tóibín
Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín TD
Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín TD has condemned AIB for “hammering families and small businesses at a time of crisis”.
He stated; At a time when families and businesses are struggling and jobs are at risk as the result of the global Covid-19 pandemic, it is shameful that AIB have charged clients their quarterly €100 fees. As those in need were scheduled to receive the first instalment of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment, they suddenly found themselves charged at a time when
the payment is often their sole source of income. We in Aontú are calling on AIB to refund customers the fees deducted and to grant a fees holiday for the duration of the crisis.
The imposition of fees completely contravenes an earlier statement by AIB Chief Executive Colin Hunt: “staff and systems are focussed on supporting our customers and
economy through this unprecedented crisis. To that end we have in place a range of robust measures designed to buttress customers against the enormous challenges now facing”;
Deducting quarterly fees from unemployment payments or subsidised wage packets is hardly indicative of support for customers and our economy during this crisis.
During the Financial Crisis, the Irish taxpayer was the one who bailed out the banks – saving them from insolvency. Due to government policy the banks in this country are allowed to earn billions of euro profit tax free. None of these actions have not been recognised or repaid by these financial institutions. Aontú calls on the Government – a major shareholder in AIB – to demand AIB to refund customers and institute a payments holiday for the duration of the pandemic.
