Donegal Sinn Féin to host a number of online public meetings calling for Donegal Bank of Ireland branches to stay open.

Sinn Féin TD Pearse Doherty will join local Donegal Sinn Féin councillors and area representatives for a number of online public meetings across Donegal next week calling on Bank of Ireland to keep local Donegal branches open.

Speaking this afternoon, Teachta Doherty said: “For our towns and communities to thrive, we need our local bank branches to stay open.

“In the middle of a pandemic, when customers and businesses are under severe pressure, Bank of Ireland – which was bailed out to the tune of €4.7 billion by the Irish people – should not be closing local bank branches.

“Keeping our local branches in Donegal open is crucial for our community.

“Our local Sinn Féin councillors, and area representatives, in the towns affected will be hosting a number of online public meetings in which we are asking the local communities to attend, to fight to keep our local branches open and to stand up for rural Ireland.”

The details of the public meetings are as follows:

Bunbeg: Monday, March 8, at 7pm – Clr John Sheamais Ó Fearraigh and Pearse Doherty TD will host an online public meeting in relation to the Bunbeg branch.

Join Zoom Meeting:

Meeting ID: 825 7174 3640

Passcode: 767108

Moville: Monday, March 8, at 8pm – Clr Albert Doherty, Pádraig Mac Lochlainn TD and Pearse Doherty TD will host an online public meeting in relation to the Moville branch.

Join Zoom Meeting:

Meeting ID: 831 3253 1457

Passcode: 711857

Dungloe: Tuesday, March 9 at 7pm – Cllr Marie Therese Gallagher and Pearse Doherty TD will host an online public meeting in relation to the Dungloe branch.

Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 839 1956 4412

Passcode: 624139

Bundoran: Tuesday, March 9 at 8pm – Cllr Michael McMahon, Martin Kenny TD and Pearse Doherty TD will host an online public meeting in relation to the Bundoran branch.

Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 873 7828 3175

Passcode: 337164

Glenties: Wednesday,  March 10 at 7pm, Brian Carr and Pearse Doherty TD will host an online public meeting in relation to the Glenties branch.

Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 889 9956 3594

Passcode: 489772

Deputy Doherty added: “For those wishing to join, please use the above links or log in details, or alternatively, send an email to constituency.manager1@gmail.com and a Zoom link for the meeting you wish to attend will be sent to you.

“This is a public meeting and we are inviting all members of the local communities to attend, including customers, staff, public representatives, local businesses and business groups, trade union representatives and local voluntary organisations.

“There is an important role for the government here as well. As a key shareholder in Bank of Ireland, the Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe needs to stand up for local communities facing the closure of their bank branches.”