Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)

Almost half of small and medium-sized enterprises are claiming they cannot get borrowing for overdrafts, for term loans or for stocking purposes. The Government has adopted a wait and see strategy as regards the banks where it will not advance capital to the banks except as a last resort. Is this proving damaging to the economy? Will the Government be coming back to the Oireachtas with legislative proposals should it be necessary to put State capital into the banks? It was indicated during the budget that such a possibility was under consideration?

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