Kevin Humphreys (Labour) | Oireachtas source

There is not an enormous difference on a deposit rate, which is pretty close to zero. The access to Central Bank funds is an issue. I accept the bank is penalised for lodging money to the Central Bank. The cost of doing business is quite high for small businesses at the 6.9% and 5.5% rates. I would like to see more analysis of what is deemed to be a small loan. A small loan is probably penalised at the higher rate. The fixed rate is 5.5%. Will the witnesses provide more analysis in this regard to the committee, not today but at a later stage? For shops, pubs and small enterprises trying to get off the ground, paying interest rates of around 7% is quite difficult.