Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 7 July 2020

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response

Impact of Covid-19: Overall Fiscal and Monetary Position

Mr. Gabriel Makhlouf:

It would remove some of the uncertainty but I do not know whether it would ultimately provide value for the community as a whole. I believe that targeting supports at businesses that are viable but at risk of becoming insolvent is one of the most important things for us to try to do. As I explained earlier, the 100% guarantee has some drawbacks because it would create the wrong incentives for the institutions who know best how to provide commercial lending when assessing borrowers. A targeted 100% guarantee or grant will, however, have its place. Ultimately, what the economy needs is a flexible menu of policy options that enable it to see this crisis through. Would Mr. Cassidy like to add anything?