Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

Yes, they are and they have worked, contrary to Deputy Clune's opinion. These mechanisms are available and part of the recapitalisation programme is to ensure that more capital is made available to these companies.

I also want to advise the House that the method by which grant aid is provided by Enterprise Ireland, the IDA, Údarás na Gaeltachta and Shannon Development is a tripartite approach between the agency, the bank and the client, which never happened before. This is to assure the client that, when grant aid is available and due diligence is done, it will stand up from a banking perspective. I am not saying it is easy to get access to finance; some of the rules have changed. However, the criteria for lending have also changed. That being said, it is my clear intention to use the round table forum and the clearing house to pursue this matter vigorously on behalf of the people that I must represent, namely, the business sectors.

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