Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)

We are all well aware of the difficulties. Sometimes banks reduced overdraft facilities and provided term loans but that was not an increase in credit to small and medium-sized businesses. We know what was happening. Now we want to get Forfás and the Central Bank together to analyse this.

Mazers 2 is also in there, assessing the credit demand. Let us be honest. There has been a drop in demand. The first Mazers report clearly pointed out there was a drop in demand for credit simply because there was a contraction in the economy. Companies and small and medium sized businesses that need to access credit, based on sound business projections and balance sheets, profit and loss statements and all that is done in normal everyday businesses, should be supported. We are trying to ensure the banks do that and are monitoring it in that context, through Mazers. Equally, Forfás is working with the Central Bank, analysing the type of credit that is being extended to small and medium-sized businesses.

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