Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)

I agree it probably is easier to get money from Ulster Bank and the others in this context. However, I refer to the banks we virtually own and this is the point that ordinary punters and small, big or medium-sized business people cannot understand. These banks have robbed them blind and have taken their bloody money. However, now that they are taking more money, they will not even re-lend the money that has been given to them by the ordinary individuals of this State. Has the Minister summoned the chief executive officers, the chief financial officers and the credit officers of the aforementioned banks to meet him? One should forget about Mr. Trethowan, as he is a port of last resort. Has the Minister met them on a face-to-face basis to tell them of the Government's unhappiness? The banks are not doing what the Government has set out for them to do. Moreover, the Government only wishes banks to lend to viable business, as we have had enough madness in the past, but they should lend to real viable businesses. I agree with Deputy Perry's point. A smokescreen is being put up in that if a bank renegotiates a client's overdraft facility from €5,000 to €3,000, it will assert that this constitutes new business.

See this speech in context