John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)

All Members agreed in the past two days of debate that people and businesses are looking for hope. I raised an issue yesterday on which I would like a direct answer. A small trader was informed by one of his suppliers last week that the supplier had a letter from his bank cancelling his overdraft of €50,000 and his direct debits. He contacted his local bank manager, who did not know anything about this. When he contacted the business section of the relevant headquarters in Dublin, a faceless official, instead of apologising for what had happened, told him not to try to put him on a guilt trip and that he would sleep easily in his bed that night.

The Minister owns all the banks in the country at present. Will he give a direction that these faceless people treat the business sector, particularly the small business sector, with respect? This case involves a sole trader who is providing 14 jobs. He has reneged on none of his debts and will not renege on any of them but he needs to be treated with respect. There are thousands like him. Given the Minister owns the banks at present, will he tell them to treat the people with respect?

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