Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

With regard to supports for small business and the work of Enterprise Ireland, the schemes which have been introduced are successful and have been very helpful to more than 1,800 firms in the country. The question of loan guarantee must be considered very carefully. We have already been given credit plans from the banks to ensure that on the basis of their successful recapitalisation they will be in a position to extend credit lines to business. The issue of the State being a further guarantor in respect of loans in business, in addition to what security businesses are already providing, is something that must be carefully considered and is under discussion.

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