Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the delegates.

The number of applications was 281. Did Mr. Trethowan expect more when his office started off? At what point after an applicant is refused credit can he or she approach the Credit Review Office? Do banks advise those who are refused credit of the existence of the Credit Review Office?

Is the Credit Review Office concerned that banks will be quicker to refuse businesses seeking loans smaller than €25,000 in the knowledge that there is in place a micro-finance fund, which constitutes an opt-out or alternative?

Mr. Trethowan stated the troika has asked the banks to move beyond short-term forbearance to a more structured plan. Is there evidence of a shift in policy in this regard?

Consider the table summarising the statistics on banks' formal internal appeals. Will Mr. Trethowan explain it? I understand 6% of Bank of Ireland appeals were overturned and that 31% of AIB appeals were overturned. What does this say about the two banks? Why was there such a difference?

Many members have said the views they hear on the ground are different from those we hear from the Irish Banking Federation. At the start of this year I met two local bank managers from one of the pillar banks. They told me they are open for business and encouraged me to send clients to them. I stated I had heard anecdotally that the bank was reluctant to lend and the managers accepted there was reluctance in 2011 and that the bank was anxious about or scared of being too generous in giving out loans. Since then, one would have expected to have seen an increase in lending. Is the bankers’ statement that they are more open for business backed up in the figures?

Mr. Trethowan referred to the parking of other debt. We have been told many businesses that are doing well invested in property, both foreign and Irish, during what were supposedly the good times. Obviously, the property prices have collapsed. Is business debt separated from property debt? Is there separation as might be evident in respect of building-related debts incurred by farmers who worked in the building industry? Has this been recognised?