report into the financial affairs of former Taoiseach Charles Haughey. Justice Moriarty found that AIB had settled a IR£1 million (€1.27 million) overdraft with Haughey on favourable terms for the politician shortly after he became Taoiseach in 1979; the tribunal found that the leniency shown by the bank in this case amounted to a benefit from the bank to Haughey. According to the report, the bank showed an extraordinary degree of deference to Mr. Haughey despite his financial excesses. Cashless branches On 19 July 2022, AIB announced that 70 of its 170 branches would become cashless due to "declining demand for these services" by October 2022. Under the plans, these branches would no longer provide cash or cheque services and ATMs would also be removed. The announcement was heavily criticised by GAA clubs, local councillors and AIB customers in rural areas. On 21 July, Government TDs sought an emergency meeting with Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe regarding the move. Taoiseach Micheál Martin said AIB should "reconsider and reflect on" its decision to remove cash facilities at 70 branches around the country. The next day, on 22 July, the Minister for Social Protection, Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys called on AIB to halt the decision to go cashless at 70 branches, stating that rural communities across the country were "rightly angry" about the plan, accusing the bank of showing a "complete disregard" for rural communities. In the afternoon, AIB announced that it would not be proceeding with its plan to end cash services at 70 branches around the country following a backlash to the move from business groups, consumers, farming and rural organisations and politicians. Current developments The bank is currently involved in a number of "sale and leaseback" deals with its properties. In 2005 it sold an extension to its Ballsbridge Bankcentre headquarters for €367 million. There are also plans to sell the remainder of the building for €275 million, as well as the bank's branch network for €421 million. In February 2006 the bank announced record pre-tax profits of €1.7 billion, a 23% rise on the previous year and the largest ever for an Irish bank. The majority of the increase came from its Republic of Ireland operations, but with its Capital Markets in Northern Ireland, Great Britain, Poland and American divisions also making significant contributions. This led to criticism from some newspapers, as their profit per customer