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

I welcome the panel here today. At the outset the witnesses said they provide equity to companies unable to access credit markets. Why are they unable to access credit? Is it to do with risk or the scale of what they are looking for?

Is the uncompetitive tax regime the main challenge? What other challenges are there for venture capitalists who provide funding? They have said investment activity will decline because of the seed funds and available funding. They have mentioned initiatives that should be taken up, including discussions with the pensions industry and EU initiatives to provide liquidity as a backstop. Have they pursued these with the Department of Finance or Government or are they just hopes?