Ms Majella Fitzpatrick:

We had this exact conversation the last time we were here. I agree with Deputy Collins that there are more schemes to be developed and more creative ways to do things. Right now, however, we have a great many schemes and supports. The problem is that small businesses, in particular, including the one and two-man shows to which Deputy Lawlor referred, do not know where to go to access information. If they do access information, they may not understand it. They do not have time to look.

We must make a real concerted effort, not only in terms of a portal. We should provide both technical solutions and people solutions, involving bringing people together to work on this over a period of time of perhaps six or nine months, and really target the information to the relevant persons. We could do that through collaboration between business and Government. We could work out easily who are the ones who need what particular information. In a short period of time, we could do something to get the word out there. Of course, once one business benefits from something, that is the reference and it will travel like wildfire. People pick up information from their peers. It would be worthwhile putting a concerted effort into that. In fact, I am chatting to Microfinance Ireland. Obviously, it is confident in the scheme but it knows it is not getting the take-up that it should. They are going to see how we, across IBEC, can pick the relevant persons from the relevant sectors that are the appropriate size that would benefit from that kind of funding. Those are the kinds of efforts. They are time consuming. They take commitment on everyone's part but those are the kinds of lengths to which we must go to get the message out there.

I would make one other comment, on what Deputy Kyne stated about the troika. I happen to believe at this stage that the troika is wallpapered to the Irish people, particularly since Mr. Chopra left in a visible way. I think the people have turned off to that completely. I do not believe the fact that the guys will not be visible anymore will have any impact whatsoever. That is merely an anecdotal observation.