John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)

This is not good enough because the document, Your Business Your Bank, should be the first publication with regard to the criteria for drawing down funds. Credit is not available. The Minister of State should speak to Mr. John Trethowan of the Credit Review Office, who would tell him about the difficulties with banks at present. It is not a case of giving credit to non-viable businesses. This is about the sustainability of viable businesses that are being closed at present. Cash is not being made available to viable businesses on the ground, regardless of the commitment made by the State-guaranteed Allied Irish Banks and Bank of Ireland. I again refer to the three supports for business. Does the Minister of State not agree that as the Government has bailed out the banks, one would assume the banks would invest in business and that therefore, the third tier should be the retention of jobs but that this is not happening?

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