Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The European Investment Bank has given Ireland a good deal of money and in the last couple of years its investment has more than doubled. In 2014 it will be approximately €600 million and I think it envisages it going up to €800 million. That is a very significant input. It provided funds to both AIB and Bank of Ireland. It was around €250 million for SMEs but while the country lacked confidence there was a demand-side problem with investment and SMEs simply did not avail of the facilities.