Allied Irish Bank to set up confidential whistle-blowers' helpline

AIB IS to set up a confidential whistle-blowers' helpline to avert further scandals. Chief executive Michael Buckley admitted there was a culture of self-censorship in the bank.

He said the helpline would allow staff who had concerns about banking practices to pass them on.

"Part of my agenda is to make sure that people feel free to speak their mind without retribution." AIB's illegal foreign exchange charges, which amounted to €25.6 million, went unexposed for eight years until a member of staff contacted the Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority (IFSRA) in April.