Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)

I have counted them and 19 times the Government publicly promised a partial credit guarantee scheme, which is a carbon copy of the English scheme, yet it has not produced it. It promised a micro-finance scheme and the princely sum of €10 million a year for the small and medium business enterprise sector. The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation said that would enable loans of up to €25,000 to be given to SMEs. That is fair enough, but according to my arithmetic €25,000 into €10 million goes 40 times. There are 200,000 SMEs in this country. That leaves 199,960 SMEs unaccounted for. Is that the Government's approach to the credit crisis in this country?

The strategic investment bank, according to the Taoiseach, has become a strategic investment fund. It is heading for a strategic investment fudge. My message to the Government is direct and simple.

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