DISCLOSURES OF INTEREST

Northern Irish personal banking

Paul Geroski, the Chairman of the Commission intends to appoint Laura Carstensen, member of the Commission, to the Group that is conducting this investigation.

Mrs Carstensen was until 2004 an equity partner in Slaughter and May and her capital in the firm will be repaid over a period of time, but as yet has not been fully repaid. Slaughter and May includes Bank of Ireland and Abbey amongst its clients. Mrs Carstensen never advised Abbey. However, she has on occasion acted for Bank of Ireland. On the most recent occasion on which she did so, in 1999, her involvement was limited to less than two hours' work.

At present, the CC does not know whether Slaughter and May will act for any person who may seek to influence the outcome of this inquiry. However, even if they should, Mrs Carstensen believes that she can discharge the obligations of a member of the Group investigating the market for Northern Irish Personal Banking independently and impartially. The Competition Commission believes that the matters described above will not compromise the ability of the group to discharge its functions in an independent and impartial manner.