John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister for a comprehensive reply. With regard to the €15 million for 34 boards, when the staff costs are taken from that the net benefit to small companies is minimal.

The Minister gave a comprehensive reply and I have several supplementary questions but on the funding aspect, will the Minister agree that a tremendous opportunity was missed to access EIF finance in these challenging times? Will the Minister not agree that the enterprise network had major consultation with the EIF and that money was available? Is it not a damning indictment of the Government that the only EIF approved micro-finance institution in the country is First-Step? Despite what the Minister of State said about John Threthowan and with regard to the banks, funding is not available. Is it not a fact that many loans that have been approved by CEBs with local credit unions have been rejected by mainstream banks? That is a fact.

See this speech in context