Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I hope the Deputy and her colleagues on the committee will make a report that can be examined by the Department of Finance and my Department. It is envisaged the report I mentioned will be ready and submitted to the Government some time in the middle of the year. I hope we get plenty of interest. As I said, we have contacted many outside groups seeking for them to make submissions. We have had discussions with Irish Rural Link and the German banking company. I hope many people will make submissions to the Government in order that it can consider them and respond to the issue. It is a part of the programme for Government and I hope it will be honoured.

The Deputy mentioned she was a spokesperson for many years on finance issues and she was a Minister in the previous Government. She knows how the Government works and if people want something to happen, it will happen. I hope this will happen and the Deputy is quite correct. I hope the credit unions will make a very strong submission. They are already a proven entity and are there to support rural communities. They have a role in this as well.

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