Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

A sum of €15 million out of €150 million has been approved. We had a discussion about this last Thursday during Question Time. The Minister made a significant announcement about expanding the credit guarantee scheme to companies whose banks are exiting the market and are selling off their loan portfolios. I cannot stress enough how urgent that is. It really cannot wait. A major bank - I will not name it and it is not a pillar bank - is selling off its loan portfolio and these are exactly the companies I suspect the Minister has in mind. They are running out of time, so when will we see the proposal and the legislation? Is there any way the Minister can introduce this on a temporary basis for the companies that are running out of time with their banks?