Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 27 May 2014

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

Access to Finance for SMEs: Discussion (Resumed)

2:35 pm

Mr. Adrian Devitt:

It is part of the 2014 plan. As to whether the existing banks use the funding from the strategic investment bank, I think there will be requirements to ensure the funding is additional, so it simply cannot replace other funds. Also there will be requirements to ensure that businesses get the value of the lower cost of the credit. The banks cannot take that margin. There will be a strong focus on additionality and making sure the funds are passed through. There is also a goal that if this entity can offer long-term credit at lower costs that one can go to the market and to external banks or, perhaps, more niche credit providers, and ask them to Ireland where there are funds available on which they can draw to serve the Irish market. Hopefully, it reduces a barrier to entry and, perhaps, we may see new entrants coming in.

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