Howlin: Banks need to show more respect to public

A cabinet minister has said Ireland's banks need to start paying more respect to the public.

Brendan Howlin said that banks need to remember the fact that the public has spent billions of euro on bailing them out.

His comments come after the Financial Services Ombudsman reported another increase in the number of complaints referred to his office.

The public expenditure minister said banks must treat their customers better.

"We have gone through a banking crisis that has been very costly and expensive for the people of Ireland," he said.

"And the least we would expect is the banks to treat with complete respect the clients who are the citizens of this country

"I think the banks need to take very careful heed of what the Ombudsman said this morning."