Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)

Did the Minister discuss the availability of bank credit in the aftermath of Bank of Scotland's withdrawal? Is she aware that the hotel sector is heavily over-borrowed and is experiencing difficulties in accessing working capital? I ask her to respond to the press release issued today by the Irish Hotels Federation which expresses concern about the inaction of her colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Gormley, on excessive local authority charges. The press release states that 180 hotels and guest houses could go out of businesses because of the refusal of county managers under the Minister's direction to negotiate.

See this speech in context