Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In respect of the credit guarantee and microfinance schemes, this is the time of year when the self-assessment deadline is due. I would encourage Microfinance Ireland to use that database as Revenue is communicating with all self-assessed people to promote the scheme.

We really need to become serious about the Department pushing the Department of Finance to push the banks about some sort of viable product for splitting viable businesses from overhanging debt and property-rated loans that these businesses will service in time. At least, it will give them the break to expand their businesses and employment. I would like to see the Minister of State's Department put pressure on the Department of Finance and for it to be the champion of some model like that. We are offering domestic mortgage holders a range of solutions but this is something that would be directly relevant to many really good businesses if they could move away from their debt - not abandoning it but paying it in time - and to release their capital and energy to grow their business and employment.

See this speech in context