Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)

I gave one example of what is going on. Does the Tánaiste believe what the banks are telling her? Is the protocol she has agreed with them worth the paper it is written on or are they pulling the wool over people's eyes? Are the banks going to support small industries, such as those to which I referred, to ensure their survival or, in the case I cited, an expansion? If the other banks will not do so, we own Anglo Irish Bank. Will the Tánaiste give a direction to that bank to go to the European Investment Bank and drawn down €1 billion of the €30 billion available so that it can be made available to small and medium-sized businesses at a particular rate of interest? That is what will secure the future of our industries.

See this speech in context