Mr. Seamus Boland:

To be clear, the SME sector represents the largest employer in rural areas. Rural and regional economies have suffered severely in this recession which, insofar as SMEs are concerned, they are still not out of. What we are saying very clearly is that the terms of reference must be published very shortly and this forum must meet urgently. We would have preferred if it got on to the business of looking at the logistics of a public bank rather than talking around it. Deputy Doherty made a good point earlier. Are we going to try to kick the matter further to touch and somehow hope it goes away? Irish Rural Link will not be going away from this subject any time soon. We want it dealt with urgently. Otherwise, we are a prisoner of the current banking system.