Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I often think those who do not live in rural Ireland have a kind of funny attitude about doing business there. There are very substantial businesses in rural Ireland, particularly in the west, as the Minister of State knows. The problem for entrepreneurs is not the physical location of a bank but rather getting finance, especially equity finance from venture funds into businesses. The idea that €50,000, €100,000 or the limits of the friendly credit union can really sustain a business does not match my experience of running a business in the west. It was not that big when I was there. What will the Minister of State do through the Western Development Commission investment fund to ensure these people have adequate funding to give money to businesses in the west?

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