Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)

The Deputy is raising issues that go well beyond the subject of his question. The Government is acutely aware of the problems in the banking system. The Minister of State, Deputy Perry, has been engaged in a roadshow with the Secretary General of the Department of Finance, Mr. John Moran. Deputy Wallace is aware the Department of Finance has received a commitment from each of the two pillar banks to lend €3.5 billion to small and medium-sized enterprises over the coming year. The Department is taking that commitment seriously and holding the banks to account in that regard. As part of the roadshow, we want to get closer to business and identify where problems are arising. We are seeking to equip businesses when they submit applications to banks and ensure the banks are in a position to act as bankers to business rather than as bankers to the property sector as they were in the recent past. Enterprise Ireland is working with us on the latter issue. The Deputy is aware the Credit Review Office, which was established by the previous Government, offers a valuable service. People whose credit applications have been turned down have the right to appeal to the office. A number of initiatives, such as the microfinance and loan guarantee scheme, are being developed. Legislation on those initiatives will be presented to the Oireachtas soon. We are acutely aware of the problems associated with access to finance and we are seeking to resolve them.

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