Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Mr. McDowell also mentioned that the EIB gives credit guarantees to Irish commercial banks to increase their lending into key sectors. Irish banks are charging their customers far higher interest rates for that money than banks in Luxemburg or on the Continent. What is Mr. McDowell's view on that? Are these Irish banks using EIB money to enhance their balance sheets? What is most important here is that the opportunity that should be given to Irish business to rebuild through EIB money is costing far more than it would elsewhere in Europe.