Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

I do not think the Taoiseach grasps the urgency of the situation facing small businesses and the people who work for them and who are concerned about losing their jobs. He outlined a process whereby reports from consultants are discussed by the Central Bank and considered by the Minister, business plans are submitted by the banks and decisions are made which perhaps will resolve the situation but may not, and to please acknowledge the position on recapitalisation. In the meantime, businesses are going to the wall because they cannot get their hands on the money they need to pay wages to their staff or to keep going. That is the problem. Some are facing choices in terms of whether they should lay off staff at the end of the week, which bills they should pay this week or how will they keep going beyond Christmas. In many cases they are experiencing a significant drop in trade. They need some help and not to hear a story that discussions are ongoing with the banks and a process is under way. They need to get access to credit.

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