Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Táim buíoch as an chur i láthair. I agree on the technology and whiskey sectors, which present great opportunities. It sometimes seems that the banking industry is behind the curve with regard to emerging opportunities. Sometimes the banks say those looking for loans are not skilled enough with finance to be able to apply correctly. What have the delegates been doing to pass those skills on to individuals so they can apply correctly? Has the organisation been involved in trying to upskill the banks’ staff with regard to the emerging trends in the economy? Have the delegates seen the Government doing anything to upskill the bankers themselves in regard to how they should respond to the whiskey and technology sectors?

With regard to capital gains tax, I agree it is ridiculous having different rates in Newry and Navan. I would like to see the same rates in those locations.

The delegates referred to a lack of demand and quoted reports in doing so. We have been hearing that there are many cash flow problems in businesses at present. Will the delegates talk us through them?

I agree that retailers seem to be the poor relation in terms of Government policy in the past. One of the questions I have been putting to all the organisations is the dampening effect debt distress is having on the economy in general. Are the banks making an effort to nurse business out of debt distress, by separating toxic assets from the rest of the business? Will they comment on the cost of loans? What is the price elasticity of loans? Have the organisations engaged with Government recently on the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund? I know this is an issue that has been at play for a long time but has not reached implementation in practice.

Have the member organisations experience of sourcing finance abroad?