Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)

This is what we must do, but not mañana or at some hopeful time in the future. Government parties hope investment will be forthcoming from the existing banks and that it will go into small businesses. We are aware, as is ISME and everyone who represents small business that this is not happening and it will not happen with the current commercial banks because that is not their focus or concern.

The only way to bring the country and its people back to sustainable growth, jobs and confidence in the future is if we have a strategic investment bank such as that proposed by the Labour Party, the absolute focus of which will be on providing capital funding to get businesses up and running and to keep the businesses currently struggling afloat and in order. The proposal will help to build schools, hospitals, roads and houses which are so urgently needed.

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