Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will not be able to answer all of the questions in one minute, but I will do my best to answer some of them. Deputy Calleary raised the issue of the stability fund. The Deputy is correct. My plan is to roll it out as quickly as possible. The funding is in place and more than 1,000 applications have been received. I want the funding to be paid out as quickly as possible. We did have to engage with some of the groups in regard to the manner in which they filled out their applications. I want to ensure equality between the groups in terms of applications. It is important we are all singing from the same hymn sheet. Pobal will make the decisions. As I said, my plan is to roll out the funding as quickly as possible.

On the issue of services in rural Ireland, if any of the banks or public services are using this opportunity to shut down services, I would condemn them. I call on Bank of Ireland to ensure that all of its branches which closed during the crisis are reopened immediately, because if the business existed prior to the crisis, it should be there after it. I hope that they will be reopened.

On the rates and other facilities, schemes have been put in place and the Government has announced a package. I hope that the local authorities will show flexibility to businesses. What we need now is business to reopen. The local authorities need to assist them in their hour of need. I do not want local authorities or any other service putting pressure on businesses that need to open quickly and commence re-employment of people as quickly as possible.

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