Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I am a member of the cross-party retail support group, which has members from all of the parties present in the Chamber. At our last meeting, we were told by some businesses that whereas previously they would have secured an extension to their overdraft at times of pressure on their cashflow, such as in the lead-up to Christmas, banks are now telling them to take out a loan instead of offering an overdraft facility. I want to make the Minister aware of this issue and find out if there is a way in which she, as a champion of business in the State, can put pressure on the banks to put the interests of businesses ahead of their own interests. Unfortunately, the banks have not learned their lesson from the bank bailout.

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