Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)

-----to dealing with the outflow of credit." Some 20 cases have been referred to that office since it opened and it has dealt with ten of them. It found in favour of five and in the other five cases it found in favour of the banks. What should we take from the message that sends to the sector? If the Minister of State does not know the answer to that, I will give him a hint. It means that the SME sector has no faith whatsoever in that office, although I acknowledge the sound character of the credit reviewer. I acknowledge Mr. John Trethowan's credibility but the office and the way it was established by the Government and the relationship between the Government and the banks is such that SMEs would take one look at that office and say: "Thanks but no thanks, hang on to your so-called Credit Review Office, it means nothing for us." That is the message about that office that is being taken by the sector; no could message could be taken from it.

Mr. John Trethowan said the "worst is over" for small business borrowers.

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