Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I join my colleagues in welcoming the Bill, which makes provision for the largest credit guarantee scheme in the history of the State. That is certainly welcome for businesses that are now at the pin of their collar. This will offer some much-needed liquidity as they try to get back on their feet. It is good news on top of last week's financial provisions and microenterprise loan fund legislation. It proves that in the early weeks of this Government there has been a real willingness on this side of the House to prime local businesses to ensure that they are in the fittest and healthiest financial state possible as they try to resurrect, get back to work and start doing what they do best.

There are a number of outliers. I want to briefly mention one of these to the Minister of State. A man came to Dublin last week. He arrived at the gates of Leinster House. His name is Sean Kilkenny. He is a colourful character from Tuamgraney in east Clare. He got plenty of coverage on the national airwaves. Sean Kilkenny operates a jarvey business in east Clare. He has beautiful carriages that at this time of year would normally operate in and around the grounds of Dromoland Castle. He has a range of other carriages that are used for funerals and weddings. He has 42 or 43 animals, including some beautiful Connemara ponies and Irish draught horses. He is really holding up and shoring up a rural economy, providing a vital tourism industry in the region.

Mr. Kilkenny is in one of those outlier situations. He is getting his Covid-19 related payment of €350, but he has major operating costs. We need to see scope within the July stimulus and the measures we are adopting this week to support and benefit those such as Mr. Kilkenny to ensure these businesses will not go to the wall during this crisis. Owners of bed and breakfasts also have issues, particularly those over the age of 66 as they are not eligible for Covid-19 payments. They also find themselves outside the qualifying net for several supports already announced.

My final point concerns bank loans, because I understand that what we are approving this week will be dispersed through the Bank of Ireland, AIB and Ulster Bank. Defaulting on any standing order with a bank, or even a missed direct debit relating to a Vodafone or ESB bill, will mean that a person's credit rating will go sour. Credit ratings are fragile. The very people who will look for this finance in late July and August as they try to refinance their businesses, therefore, are probably the same people who have defaulted on basic, simple and small direct debits that were unable to come from their accounts because of a lack of liquidity. Going on the credit ratings system will mean that some of these people will go into the bank, with all of their paperwork in order and with a credible claim for a loan, but they will not be able to get it because they defaulted on some small basic payments in the previous six months during the Covid-19 crisis. This issue will be a major anomaly affecting many people, so I urge the Minister to look at it and give some assurances to SMEs.

I join others from my party who have spoken about publicans. What has happened thus far has had to be guided by public health guidance and we all accept that fully. There has, however, been a disproportionate benefit to those who run food-serving pubs in urban constituencies, as opposed to those in rural areas who can see no light at the end of the tunnel. That situation needs to remain fluid and more clarity needs to be brought to this area by the Government.

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