Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Chairman for facilitating us. I apologise in advance to the delegates as it is Question Time in the Dáil. It will be like Lanigan's Ball today in that we will be stepping in and stepping out.

The context of these hearings is the huge frustration still being expressed to us about bank lending facilities and the lack thereof. Even as late as last night, I attended a meeting at which huge frustration was expressed. This is backed up by figures from the Central Bank that to year end - September 2013 - lending to SMEs declined by 4.8%, or €1.3 billion, and that lending to all non-financial and non-property business declined by 3.9%. The figure was 5.9% at the end of September 2012.

The Government-commissioned RedC report stated perceptions of bank lending were still poor and that many people would not go to the bank because they feared their existing credit facilities would be reduced. The Credit Review Office has shown that 55% of appeals to it were upheld. Under Bank of Ireland's own internal appeals mechanism, only 14% of appeals got through the system. That is the frustration of which we are trying to get to the bottom to see if there is a solution.

It was stated a sum of €4 billion was approved for SMEs last year. How much of it was drawn down as opposed to applications just been approved?

I can ask all of my questions now if the delegates like in order that we can get them out of the way.