Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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The main point is that people with a track record in business are finding it increasingly difficult to get loans the way they did before. I have already spoken about the young couples who find it impossible to get mortgages. Dr. Kelly talks about how people going for mortgages are getting them. The majority of people who go for mortgages are getting the blanket refusal. They are being refused, and there is no autonomy any more with the banks. When you go the bank, the bank manager may as well be sweeping the floor, because the bank manager has no say whatsoever any more. None whatsoever. In the past you could get an answer from a bank manager. He or she would answer you after a couple of days and tell you they will stand with you and back you and support you. It is now a case of them referring that to Dublin. The people in Dublin do not know you. They do not want to know you. They do not care about you. They do not care if you live or die. They do not care if your business grows, closes, or just stays indifferent, and they are definitely not backing brave. I do not see why the witnesses are all afraid of tackling the issue with the signs. It seems the message must go out from this meeting that the Central Bank does not care about the main pillar banks putting up misleading information. I will tell that story to the public-----