Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The banks have contracted SME lending, from what we can see here, by €2 billion. They may even have contracted it by more because it may be sanctioned lending rather than drawn-down lending. Does the Credit Review Office analyse the figures in depth with the banks? I ask that it do so. The banks have been before the committee and the representative of Bank of Ireland told us that the €3.5 billion was all new lending, while AIB said that of the €3.5 billion, only €600 million was new lending. Mr. Trethowan has told us the figure for new lending is €2.5 billion. The figures do not add up. If we add €3.5 billion to €600 million, that gives €4.1 billion.